Ruben Amorim believes he will not be given as much time to succeed at Manchester United as Mikel Arteta has had at Arsenal. The two managers face off this Sunday at Old Trafford in contrasting situations, with United struggling in 14th place while Arsenal are second in the Premier League table.
Amorim took charge at United in November, whereas Arteta has been leading Arsenal since December 2019. The Spaniard initially struggled, despite winning the FA Cup in 2020. At one point, Arsenal went seven league games without a win, putting Arteta’s job at risk. However, he was given time to rebuild and has since turned the Gunners into title contenders.
Amorim acknowledges Arteta’s journey but does not believe he will receive the same patience. He admitted that the situation at Manchester United is different, saying he must “survive” during these tough games. With United already knocked out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, pressure is mounting on the Portuguese manager.
Injuries have also hindered Amorim’s efforts to steady the team. Key players like Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, and Kobbie Mainoo remain sidelined, while Patrick Dorgu is suspended. Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte are close to returning, but Amorim remains uncertain about their availability for the Arsenal game.
The Europa League remains a realistic target for United, with a crucial second-leg clash against Real Sociedad coming up. However, their Premier League struggles mean even finishing in the top half is a challenge. A 1-1 draw in Spain did little to boost confidence, while Arsenal thrashed PSV 7-1 in their Champions League match.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have their own injury concerns. Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out for the season, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are also unavailable. Despite this, the Gunners have maintained their form and remain in the title race.
Amorim admitted his squad looked exhausted in their recent games, particularly in the last 20 minutes against Sociedad. He emphasized the importance of managing his squad carefully and surviving tough fixtures as he looks to salvage the season.
With United struggling and Amorim under pressure, Sunday’s clash against Arsenal could be a defining moment. Whether he gets the time to build like Arteta remains uncertain, but his immediate focus is simply on keeping his team competitive.