Fresh off a tactical masterclass that saw Manchester United dismantle Manchester City 2-0, Michael Carrick isn’t resting on his laurels. While Old Trafford is still buzzing from a performance reminiscent of the Ferguson era, Carrick is reportedly ready to “fix” the one crack in his defensive wall before Sunday’s trip to the Emirates.
The Narrative: From AFCON Heartbreak to Emirates hero?
Noussair Mazraoui is back. After a grueling AFCON campaign that ended in a controversial final defeat for Morocco, the £17.1m signing might walk straight back into the XI.
Why now? Because while United dominated City, Diogo Dalot looked like a “walking red card” in the first half. Against an Arsenal side that thrives on isolating full-backs, Carrick reportedly views Mazraoui as the superior “one-on-one” specialist.
Mazraoui vs. Dalot- A statistical comparison (2025/26 Season)
Carrick’s decision isn’t just about “vibes, the data suggests Mazraoui provides a level of security Dalot currently lacks. While Mazraoui has lost 6 possesions per game on an average, Dalot loses 11.5. Mazraoui also beats Dalot on the pass accuracy metric as he has a 82.1% compared to that of Dalot who has a passing accuracy of 76.9&%, stats as per Sofascore.com.
Carrick not afraid if big names
Carrick has already shown he isn’t afraid of the big names having recently benched Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha. If that is anything to go by, defensive discipline could the new currency at United. Mazraoui’s ability to time overlapping runs without leaving the center-backs exposed is exactly what United need to stop Arsenal’s high-octane wingers.
“We have got a good squad of players, that’s something that we’ve got to decide on. There was always going to be players disappointed not to start,” he told Sky Sports.
Having said that, it’s not yet certain whether or not Mazraoui will start the Arsenal match but he is sure to travel with the team to the Emirates Stadium.