Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes “killer” striker Marcus Rashford will help Manchester United cope without suspended team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic when the Premier League giants meet at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Teenage forward Rashford made a dramatic entrance into senior football in February, scoring twice in United’s 3-2 win over Arsenal just after days after grabbing two goals in his first-team debut against FC Midtjylland.
But with Ibrahimovic banned and captain Wayne Rooney, injured on England duty last week, set to be only fit enough to be on the bench, Rashford could feature from the kick-off against Arsenal.
“Certainly they would prefer to have him (Ibrahimovic),” Wenger said Friday.
“But we have as well players out and let’s not forget, last year (season) the guy who killed us was Rashford. So let’s not speculate on any weakness of Man United,” the veteran French manager added.
Wenger, looking to secure a maiden league win over former Chelsea boss Mourinho in his 12th top-flight contest with his Portuguese rival, said Rashford’s initial form had taken him slightly by surprise.
“Yes of course,” he told a news conference before adding: “Maybe a bit less, because I watched him against a Danish team in midweek and he scored and I could see straight away that this guy could be dangerous.
“On crosses his movement was good, the way he moved in the box was strong. He took everyone by surprise because no one knew him in England.”
Teenage forward Rashford made a dramatic entrance into senior football in February, scoring twice in United’s 3-2 win over Arsenal just after days after grabbing two goals in his first-team debut against FC Midtjylland.
But with Ibrahimovic banned and captain Wayne Rooney, injured on England duty last week, set to be only fit enough to be on the bench, Rashford could feature from the kick-off against Arsenal.
“Certainly they would prefer to have him (Ibrahimovic),” Wenger said Friday.
“But we have as well players out and let’s not forget, last year (season) the guy who killed us was Rashford. So let’s not speculate on any weakness of Man United,” the veteran French manager added.
Wenger, looking to secure a maiden league win over former Chelsea boss Mourinho in his 12th top-flight contest with his Portuguese rival, said Rashford’s initial form had taken him slightly by surprise.
“Yes of course,” he told a news conference before adding: “Maybe a bit less, because I watched him against a Danish team in midweek and he scored and I could see straight away that this guy could be dangerous.
“On crosses his movement was good, the way he moved in the box was strong. He took everyone by surprise because no one knew him in England.”
