ANTHONY MARTIAL WILL again be missing for Manchester United this weekend and Erik ten Hag is weighing up how best to use big-money signing Antony against Arsenal.
After kicking off his reign with galling losses to Brighton and Brentford, the Dutch manager followed the key victory against rivals Liverpool with a pair of a dogged 1-0 wins on the road.
Martial missed the opening two games of the season with a hamstring complaint and returned as a half-time substitute against Jurgen Kloppโs Reds, providing the assist for Marcus Rashfordโs decisive goal.
But an Achilles complaint ruled the France international out of the away triumphs at Southampton and Leicester, with the forward lied low again when table-topping Arsenal come to Old Trafford on Saturday.
โAnthony Martial will not be involved for Sunday,โ Ten Hag said. โI cannot tell in this moment [when he will be available again].โ
Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissakaโs availability is less clear after the full-backโs both missed Thursdayโs 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium with โsmall complaintsโ.
Asked about their availability for Sunday, Ten Hag said: โItโs difficult to say when I talk about Luke Shaw and Aaron.โ
The United manager tends to keep his cards close to his chest but has shown with Casemiro that he will not necessarily throw new signings straight into his line-up.
The 30-year-old has started from the bench in both matches since joining from Real Madrid for an initial ยฃ60million and compatriot Antony could be in the same boat.
The Brazil forward reunites with his former Ajax boss in the north west having completed his signing for ยฃ80.6million plus add-ons ahead of Thursdayโs transfer deadline.
โ[Thursday] he did his first training, individual,โ Ten Hag said.
โ[Friday] we have a team session and Saturday we have a team session, so I will think about it and then we will take a decision.โ
Ten Hag will also think about whether to give Casemiro his first start on Sunday as a frantic fixture schedule begins to pick up pace.
โIt is an option but I also have to [think it over],โ the United manager said. โI have seen Arsenal, a tough opponent.
โTheyโve started really well, as we all know. In the season you can see thereโs a team who are longer together, with a coach who is bringing his philosophy in the team, so for us itโs a good test.
โIโm really looking forward [to it] and we will pick the right XI to start.
โBut as you see, itโs not only a team. We have a squad.
โAlso today the subs who came on did really well, so Iโm happy with that and that is what we have to construct further.โ
Cristiano Ronaldo and Fred joined Casemiro in coming off the bench to see out a win that had meticulous Ten Hagโs fingerprints on it โ a far cry from last monthโs shambolic 4-0 loss at Brentford.
โI have seen some good stuff,โ he said at the King Power Stadium. โItโs more than details but I see structures are coming.
โWe are constructing and thatโs good to see. But we have to do that and improve from game to game.
โThat is work on the training ground, that is work on the video and that is work in the games.
โItโs about formation, about getting and creating lines and then making the right decisions.
โBut also the decisions on the ball and out of possession, we are making good steps, we have a base but thereโs still a lot of room for improvement.โ
An area that has improved markedly is defensive solidity, with Ten Hagโs decision to partner Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez at centre-back bringing three wins and two clean sheets.
โCollectively, I see the whole team is defending and that makes it more easy for our defenders,โ the United manager added.
โBut I think what they do well is co-operate and they do it together, they support each other and then they have a good performance.
โItโs difficult for opponents to create chances and I think this is what weโre seeing on the pitch.โ
After the highs and lows of a great Olympics we are now back to watching pampered millionaires diving, cheating and throwing tantrums. Love football but sick of all the shite that goes with it.
ahhhhhhhhhh football thank god ur back
Itโs been on all Summer. Sligo are winning OUR league.
Torres scores and Ivanovic sent off already.
Good to have football back!
Was a definite red card. Dirty challenge.
That red card was very well deserved!!! Dirtbag!!!
There was nothing to charitable about that tackle!!!
Things are getting bad now . I walked past the tv and two Chelsea players fell over . Will surely be booked for diving .
Weโre is this on, only on line ??
It is on ITV/UTV right now.