Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal side to beware of Marcus Rashford ahead of Saturday’s clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho’s side go into the game with problems in attack with top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season against Swansea last time out.
Skipper Wayne Rooney is also an injury doubt after pulling out of England’s friendly with Spain due to a knee injury, although he is expected to be fit. However, whether he will be selected remains to be seen, as he has struggled for form this season.
Speaking ahead of the game at a pre-match press conference, Wenger was asked about the absence of Ibrahimovic but admitted the striker was not the player he was most concerned about.
“Look, certainly they would prefer to have him [Ibrahimovoc] but, let’s not forget, last year the guy who killed us was [Marcus] Rashford. So let’s not speculate on any weakness of Man United,” he said via the official Arsenal website.
“Yes of course [Rashford was a surprise] but to me less because I watched him against a Danish team [earlier that week] and he scored and I could see straight away that this guy could be dangerous. On crosses his movement was good, the way he moved in the box was strong. He took everyone by surprise because no one knew him in England.”
Rashford scored twice and set up the third as United beat Arsenal 3-2 at Old Trafford back in February, as he broke onto the scene in impressive fashion.
The teenager has not had the same impact this season, although he has largely been forced out wide with Ibrahimovic playing the No.9 role.
The Swede’s absence and Rooney’s lack of form suggests that Rashford will be handed the lone striker role on Saturday, although he has not scored since the 24 September, a run of seven games without a goal.