Manchester United warned about Arsenal star ahead of Thursday’s clash

Former Arsenal star, Ian Wright, has tipped Thomas Partey to be the difference for Arsenal when the Gunners visit Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday.

The Gunners are in a rich vein of form, having upturned their early season blip, to win four of their last five matches.

Mikel Arteta’s side look to break into the top four for the first time this season, with a win at Old Trafford, while Man United look for a first win in their last three league games.

The Red Devils earned a vital draw against Chelsea, after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Watford, and Wright believes that while the boys can cause Arsenal problems, Partey could be the difference for his former side.

He said on Ringer FC’s Wrighty’s House, “I think people have recognised, especially against Newcastle the other day… Partey did 13 passes towards Martin Odegaard and people are starting to realise that he’s our main guy.

“If you stop Partey then I feel like, ‘Oh my gosh!’, with a Manchester United team at Old Trafford who probably won’t play with three in their midfield because they will want to go at us, there’s an energy.

“People have got to understand that there is a new manager bounce, whether it goes into games or whether it’s on the training ground because you know there’s a new manager there.

“You want to make sure you’re one of the people who, when he comes in, he goes, ‘Oh, I like him!’, so everybody gets a fresh start.

“You look at Manchester United’s team and the players they are able to put out there, with a manager that is really focused on team shape, pressing and everything they’re going to do.”

Wright added, “Look at the way United pressed Chelsea – I know [N’Golo] Kante was missing – there’s no way that [Cristiano] Ronaldo does that at the intensity that Jadon Sancho was doing it, at the intensity Bruno Fernandes behind him was doing it.

“You see [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka coming up, you see Rashford coming across, that was a press that I’ve not seen at Manchester United.

“We know that Ralf is all about the press and winning the ball up there.”