I've liked watching arsenal for years, but frankly since the likes of Keown, Adams and Vieira retired, they've had no balls when it counts.
Playing pretty all the time doesn't cut it in the PL, you need to be able to fuck peoples shit up when the time is right. Something else United are lacking outside of the Fellaini elbow.
I think that's more about having leaders. Players who fizz up, but for the most part manage to just avoid getting a red. I completely disagree with having someone dangerous just to be dangerous for that role as well. Elbows and shock tackles don't count for passion, just carelessness. Fellani is an idiot. Rooney can show it on occasions, but other times just does stupid shit. His lead up to the goal in the cup final was an example of doing it right. Taking a risk driving forward and almost taking the whole team with him.
Arsenal need leaders from the back, besides having lack of world class strikers (I see Sanchez as a gifted midfielder, not striker), their defence is woeful at times. They once had one of the best back lineups in the world, and have dwindled since with average defenders or paper bags with no leadership.
Man Utd totally lack that as well. That's the balance needed even with talented youth, you need leaders and big voices on the park. We've suffered since losing Vidic and Ferdinand. Carrick has always been a gifted player, but totally muted on the field. Even the quiet Scholes managed to grab games by the scruff for the right reasons and drive a team forward. Keane was one of the greats who often got it right with aggression, but also wrong a lot.
I thought Basti could come in as a leader, but injuries galore. As expected I guess. Schneiderlin isn't a leader. For short term Rooney needs to play CM and stay fit. I really want to go back to a 4-4-2. Even when Rooney plays AMC, he sits really deep. Our best bet IMO is going fast wingers and playing through them like the Fergie days. Overlapping fullbacks as well. Mata doesn't really fit into this formation as he's too slow, and not a holding midfielder. Rooney needs to play CM with another strong holding midfielder playing slightly behind him. That let's Rooney progress into AMC when going forward. Almost like a Scholes.
This passing buildup through the middle with LVG has been utter shite. Not helped that when we tried going wide no one could cross the ball worth a fuck, and playing with 1 striker always left a lack of players in and around the box. Put Ibra up front at all times with Martial sitting a bit behind and having a free role to drift wide when needed. He can link midfield to Ibra when needed, especially with his dribbling. We need an upfront goals machine. Doesn't need to be a twinkle toes pretty player, just someone who knows how to bang in chances end of, regardless of how much they pop up during normal play. Rashford is more of a Martial, than a powerful no nonsense striker. I can see them working together in the future but for the next season someone like Ibra would be golden.
That's how I'd try it, but lets see what Mou does.
