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
Iโm always hearing about this guy ranting on the court. Iโve come to the conclusion that I think he may have some serious mental health problems, and needs to get some help.
@The Upside-down Triangle: could be just a tool
@Adam Newman: bit of both I think.
W@nker
Waster he is
Was the ball actually out?
To be fair, sometimes you just have to call out a bad hat.
@Richard OโBrien: not while wearing that outfit!
An awful gimp of a chap
Heโs correct about the hat. Is he also correct about the out decision?
He may be an awful eejit but he draws some huge crowds and easily one of the most entertaining players on tour, shame heโll never make the most of his potential
Remember the crowds flocked to McEnroe matches more to witness the rants than his ability
@Noel Lynn: McEnroe on his worst day was never as bad as this headcase. Heโs toxic and disruptive and previous disciplinaries have done nothing. He should be kicked off the tour for a season and be made prove himself with a clean record for another couple of years after. No player or official should have to put up with a second of his cr@p.