Peter Henry
Premier League legend Alan Shearer reckons the main difference between Manchester United and Arsenal players is that the latter enjoy playing for their manager, while the former does not.
Arsenal are currently on a superb 19 game unbeaten run and sit in fourth position in the table, with new Gunners boss Unai Emery earning rave reviews for the job he has done at the Emirates since taking over from Arsene Wenger last summer.
Manchester United on the other hand have had a disastrous start to the season with poor performances on the pitch seeing the Red Devils currently occupying eight place in the Premier League after 14 games, as well as regular reports of Jose Mourinho’s strained relationship with several of his star players and his clubs board dominating the headlines on an almost daily basis.
Former Newcastle striker Shearer believes that each sides performances are directly linked to how much each group of players like working under their respective clubs coaches.
‘The biggest difference is the Arsenal players seem to be enjoying playing for their manager.’ Shearer writes for the BBC.
‘It doesn’t look to me as if the United players particularly like playing for Mourinho, and that is being shown in their performances.
‘Why? Well, he has been in charge since the summer of 2016 but when I watch United I don’t see a pattern of play or a system their players can identify with.
‘I know they have had some injuries and Mourinho has had to change his team around but so has every other club, including Arsenal, and they have managed it.
‘The Gunners had a tricky start to the season and lost their first two games, against Manchester City and Chelsea, but it is incredible the way they have bounced back to stay undefeated since then.
‘Emery, who has only been at the club since May, deserves huge credit and he is squeezing every bit of ability out of his team, in every department.