Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has shared his admiration for what Mikel Arteta has been doing at Arsenal this season.
With 13 games to go, Arsenal are the benchmark for other Premier League teams, sitting six points clear at the top of the table.
Though Manchester City are finding a way to make the title race more interesting, it’s Arteta’s side who are setting the bar.
Arsenal have been described as relentless by rival managers, and now, rival players are talking about the Gunners’ strength.
Enter, Harry Maguire.
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Harry Maguire wants Man United to play like Arsenal
Maguire was part of the first team to beat Arsenal at the Emirates this season, as Manchester United won 3-2 in North London.
The result shook the Gunners, but not enough to derail their title quest.
Despite knowing the blueprint to get the better of Arsenal, Maguire thinks every team could learn from one thing Arteta’s squad do.
When speaking to TNT Sports, the United centre-back applauded how Arsenal maintain control of games, whether it be through possession or being behind the ball.
“Probably the best team in England at the moment is Arsenal, and they’re a prime example of it,” Maguire said.
“They’re happy to be behind the ball, be solid, be compact, win games on moments, and I think that’s so important that you don’t get carried away that you need to have the ball to be in control of a game.
“Then you watch Arsenal some other games, and they have 80% possession.”
To conclude his evaluation of what Arsenal do so well, Maguire called on United to follow suit.
“So, they’re doing a bit of both. And that’s what, as a team, we’ve got to be content with.”
Arsenal are so frequently described as boring to watch, but those on the pitch themselves see the mastery behind what Arteta demands of his players.
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United are already answering Maguire’s Arsenal wish
Maguire wants United to take a page from Arsenal’s book, but in reality, the Red Devils are already on their way there.
Under Michael Carrick, United look refreshed and dangerous to play against, as Arsenal saw.
Ironically, United did show a bit of Arsenal about them when they beat the Gunners at the Emirates.
| Arsenal | Statistic | Man United |
| 2 | Goals | 3 |
| 56% | Possession | 44% |
| 1 | Big chances | 2 |
| 28 | Touches in opp box | 9 |
While Maguire’s side didn’t dominate possession, their work off the ball was key, and it won them the game without needing to disrupt the hosts’ game plan.
What Arsenal won’t want to see is Carrick adopt Arteta’s control-obsessed tactics with a look to next season.
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