Manchester United Must Focus on Attack as Strikers Face Old Clubs

Saturday’s big fixture sees Manchester United make the trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal. The two traditional heavyweights are in unfamiliar territory at the moment as they try and gain traction following difficult starts to the season.

Both sides have much work to do defensively if they are to maintain an assault on the top four positions. The majority of United’s work will need to be done on the injury table—such is the list of stricken players at the moment.

A patched-up defence will be hoping that United's attacking talent can keep Arsenal busy enough to offer it some protection. And it is in each side’s forward line where there is added interest. The match sees two strikers facing their former clubs—and both of them have a point to prove.

First, there is the Manchester United Academy graduate Danny Welbeck, who was deemed surplus to requirements by Louis Van Gaal in the summer as the Dutchman began his red revolution at Old Trafford.

And then we have the ex-Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie—whose relationship with the incoming manager at United probably helped to seal Welbeck’s fate at the club.

Whenever questions over Welbeck’s scoring record at United were raised, there was always an important caveat to consider. Rarely played in his preferred position, the England striker would sacrifice his own scoring in favour of helping the team.

Such was his work ethic and enthusiasm to play that the young forward was often turned to by Sir Alex Ferguson in big matches to beef up the numbers in midfield. Welbeck would play on the flanks, track back and join in as a goal threat if the occasion arrived. It was usually to the detriment of his goals tally—and perhaps his confidence in front of goal.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Enough flashes of his prowess were shown to earn him an England call-up in 2011—and, on the whole, he has played well for his country. Welbeck has now scored 13 goals in 32 appearances, including his brace in the 2-0 win against Switzerland last week.

It is still far too early to make judgements on his Arsenal career (he has scored twice for the Gunners in the English Premier League so far). In Europe, however, a hat-trick against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League showed a glimpse of what Arsene Wenger hopes will become a more regular sight, now that Welbeck has a more defined role.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, as detailed on ManUtd.com's live blog, Louis Van Gaal agreed that playing in a regular position would help the player—but that was something he could not offer him at Manchester United:

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"A player (Welbeck) who plays in a fixed position in a team develops better. So he takes all the benefit that he plays every week. That was a question mark with Manchester United. So it's very good to see him doing what I thought.”

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While Van Gaal seems at peace with his decision, others are not so sure. Paul Scholes, writing in the Standard, is convinced that United have made a mistake and that they miss Welbeck’s energy. “My view has not changed: he should not have been sold, and recently I have felt that United have looked a bit pedestrian going forward.”

Peter Dejong/Associated Press

Robin Van Persie made the switch to Old Trafford in 2012. His thirst to win trophies was quenched at the first attempt as the Red Devils landed the league title. Last season, however, saw the Dutchman endure a campaign disrupted both by injury and United’s poor performances.

This season has seen his form mirror that of Manchester United under Van Gaal: a stuttering start and a struggle to gain both confidence and momentum. The player himself knows that he must improve, as he told Dutch newspaper Volkskrant recently (via ESPN).

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"Three goals in nine games is not enough. Against Chelsea I had a nice chance and I had three options: chip it, go round the keeper or just [shoot] straight at the goal. I chose the last and safest. If I wouldn't have thought it over I would just chip it. I just have to trust again in my intuition."

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Saturday stands out as an important game for both strikers. Van Persie has enjoyed playing against his old side since making the switch, as highlighted by Van Gaal in his press conference.

"He was an Arsenal player—it's the football world. He has scored also three times, I have heard—I didn't know that—already against Arsenal as a Manchester United player. That's life, believe me."

Welbeck, meanwhile, will be relishing the opportunity to face his former team-mates and show them what they are missing.

Louis Van Gaal made a big call regarding his strikers in the summer. He will be hoping that he is partly vindicated this weekend by Robin Van Persie rediscovering his goalscoring touch against Arsenal. He’ll also be hoping that Danny Welbeck doesn’t show the same form in reply.