In a campaign laced with embarrassing defeats and toxic situations, Arsenal have the chance to start afresh on the opening day of a new year. 2019 was a remarkably poor calendar year for the club, failing to qualify for the Champions League once again, before seeing their current season derail completely.
The Gunners find themselves out of the top-half of the table, and with their third boss of the season in Mikel Arteta. Whilst the Spaniard may not have overseen a victory in his first two official games in charge against Bournemouth and Chelsea, there were certainly a signs of major improvement from the Gunners – not least through their captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
And against Manchester United on New Year’s Day, the Gabon international will once again be the man the north London side rely upon to inspire them to victory. But whilst the 15-goal star has enjoyed a profitable campaign so far, his toughest test – particularly with him now playing on the left-hand side – could come against Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The Red Devils’ summer signing has hit the ground running at Old Trafford, and his notoriously physical approach has left opposition wingers shaking in their boots. The England U21 international sits third in the Premier League’s ranking for most tackles made this season with 73, with only Leicester pair Ricardo Pereira and Wilfred Ndidi ahead of him in the pack.
Wan-Bissaka’s love for a challenge makes him a particularly difficult full-back to get past in one-v-one situations, and Aubameyang will no doubt have to be much cuter in the way he tries to expose the United man. Rather than taking him on with a bit of trickery, the former Borussia Dortmund forward could enjoy major success with his movement in behind.
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Making those darts infield from the touch-line to the centre-back, and seeing whether Wan-Bissaka has the positional sense to follow his run, could be the key to victory. The Red Devils prospect’s inexperience told in a big way when he slid in for a challenge inside the penalty area after losing his man against Watford earlier in December, and Aubameyang will no doubt be licking his lips at the thought of causing similar damage.
The Gunners’ chances of success will increase exponentially if their talisman can overcome United’s tackling machine. If he gets shackled however, then Arteta’s search for his first win in charge will have to wait a little longer.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans are raving about this star’s “masterclass” against Chelsea.