Assessing Arsenal’s Modern Era Compared to Ferguson’s United

David Raya has emerged as Arsenal’s most dependable goalkeeper since Petr Cech, on track to secure his third consecutive Golden Glove this season, with only 14 goals conceded in the Premier League so far. The Spanish keeper excels as a sweeper-keeper, showcasing remarkable reflexes and distribution skills that have become vital to the Gunners’ build-up play.

However, one crucial aspect is notably lacking: the ability to assert dominance in his penalty area. This is a stark contrast to Edwin van der Sar, whose commanding presence and aerial prowess allowed him to intercept set-pieces effortlessly, effectively neutralizing opponents’ scoring opportunities.

In terms of overall skill set, van der Sar matched Raya in every department, if not surpassing him. During the memorable 2007-08 season, van der Sar was pivotal, particularly in the Champions League final, where he made a decisive save against Nicolas Anelka’s penalty that secured the title for Manchester United.

Despite this, establishing a clear shot on Raya’s goal is no simple feat. Arsenal has recorded 18 clean sheets this season, largely attributed to the exceptional performance of the center-back pairing, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. Both defenders are known for their speed, strength, and composure on the ball, demonstrating an almost telepathic understanding that poses a challenge for any attacking opposition.

A comparable partnership existed between Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, who would have provided a formidable challenge against Gabriel and Saliba. Notably, in dead-ball situations, a duel between Vidic and Gabriel would have been particularly intriguing; both players are known to be brave in defense. If anyone could halt Gabriel’s influence in set-piece situations, it would be Vidic, while Ferdinand’s positioning prowess was unmatched.

Although Arsenal might have managed to unsettle van der Sar at times, Vidic and Ferdinand would have stepped up to counter their set-piece threats—an area where the 2007-08 United excelled, scoring more goals from corners than any other Premier League team that year (15).

Arsenal would also have had to navigate the challenge posed by Patrice Evra at the opposite end. The overlapping left-back was crucial to United’s swift counter-attacks and often made the difference in tightly contested matches. While Jurrien Timber displays similar speed and technical ability, he has yet to match Evra’s output. It is hard to envisage Bukayo Saka and Timber successfully tracking Evra at full tilt, particularly as he was part of a high-energy United side, complemented by tenacious players like Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher, and Park Ji-Sung.

This season, Arteta has favored a 4-3-3 formation, with Martin Odegaard, summer recruit Martin Zubimendi, and Declan Rice as his primary midfield trio. This dynamic group has performed admirably, with Odegaard acting as the chief playmaker, Zubimendi managing the tempo, and Rice disrupting opposition play, yet United possessed the necessary tools to overpower them.

United typically employed a 4-4-2 setup, characterized by impressive positional fluidity. In critical matches, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes often anchored the midfield, frequently shifting to a 4-5-1 formation for defense, ensuring they maintained numerical superiority in the central areas.

Both Carrick and Scholes would have been equally capable of overpowering Rice, effectively cutting off supply to Odegaard and limiting Zubimendi’s time on the ball, depending on Ferguson’s tactical priorities. As two of the finest passers the Premier League has seen, they would have the quality to navigate through Arsenal’s press.

Though Ferguson had to manage the workload of the 34-year-old Scholes to keep him fresh, he had ample substitutes, including Fletcher, Owen Hargreaves, and Anderson, all competent ball-winners.

Arteta has molded Arsenal into a compact unit that works diligently to force opponents wide, a key factor in their resilient defense. Nevertheless, the 2007-08 Red Devils possessed the perfect combination of creativity and tenacity to disrupt the Gunners’ game plan.

Although Arteta benefits from a wealth of attacking talent, his current version of Arsenal appears more functional than fluid. This functional approach could explain why Viktor Gyokeres has struggled to integrate seamlessly after his transfer from Sporting CP, with many of his intelligent runs going unnoticed. Moreover, the goal and assist contributions from established players like Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have significantly declined from previous seasons.

The Gunners are now more focused on marginal gains to secure victories, likely due to Arteta’s awareness of previous shortcomings against Manchester City and Liverpool when attempting a more expansive style of play. In contrast, United operated without such self-doubt.

Ferguson’s relentless philosophy established United as the most formidable team in the country, maximizing the potential of an elite attacking lineup that included Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and Cristiano Ronaldo. The sheer ruthlessness of this trio meant that Louis Saha, a prolific Premier League scorer, often found himself sidelined.

Tevez typically spearheaded the attack, posing a constant threat to defenders with his relentless pressing and clinical finishing. Rooney frequently dropped deeper, allowing him to showcase his creative abilities, while Ronaldo redefined the wing position, finishing the season with a remarkable 42 goals across all competitions.

Ferguson could also rely on the veteran Ryan Giggs, who adeptly adapted his game to fulfill a central midfield role, and Ronaldo’s compatriot Nani, who was known for his capacity to deliver match-winning moments.

United thrived on quick transitions and possessed the versatility to exploit opponents in multiple ways, with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal among those who succumbed to their prowess. A thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates contrasted sharply with United’s 2-1 victory at Old Trafford and a dominant 4-0 win in the FA Cup.

However, Arteta currently boasts a deeper squad. Arsenal has at least two elite players in every position, enabling them to handle injuries better than any other team in Europe.

Indeed, Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Christian Norgaard were all unused substitutes against Inter, while Rice, Gabriel, Martinelli, Gyokeres, and Ben White came on in the second half. Arteta’s second-choice XI would be competitive with his first in terms of quality.

Ferguson lacked that luxury, but his acumen in team selection was unparalleled. In the attacking third, he adeptly rotated a core group comprising Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes, Anderson, and Hargreaves, with the defensive line remaining largely unchanged, supported primarily by Brown.

United’s star players often received well-timed rests, and when the squad was stretched, Nani, Fletcher, John O’Shea, Park, Saha, and Gerard Pique were more than capable of stepping up. Like Arsenal today, there were no apparent weak links at any point during the season. As such, Arteta would struggle to gain an advantage over Ferguson through tactical adjustments.

The prospect of Arteta facing Ferguson on the touchline is a clear mismatch. Ferguson was 21 years into his illustrious tenure at Old Trafford by 2008, having mastered the art of achieving consistent success. He had also assembled a formidable squad that reasserted United’s dominance in England ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea.

Ferguson was a serial winner who demanded unwavering commitment from his players the moment they stepped onto the pitch. Additionally, he excelled in psychological warfare, making it easy to envision him unnerving the emotionally charged Arteta.

While Arteta has demonstrated his capabilities as an exceptional coach, he has yet to attain the status of a world-class manager. Despite the progress made, winning just one FA Cup in six years falls short of expectations for a club of Arsenal’s stature. Furthermore, Arteta’s conservative tactics in crucial matches have contributed to a lack of silverware.

It appears he has yet to fully learn from previous experiences. Arsenal’s losses against Liverpool and Manchester City, coupled with their inability to secure victories in critical matches, highlight the tension that often manifests in Arteta’s demeanor, starkly contrasting Ferguson’s composed approach. Ferguson fostered a siege mentality that transformed United players into relentless competitors, where a draw was often viewed as a defeat.

Rooney epitomized this fierce team spirit; thus, if he suggests that United would overpower Arteta’s team, one should take heed. Until Arteta delivers tangible success, it would be prudent for all associated with the club to refrain from further discussions about his legacy.