Arsenal vs Man Utd: Is Michael Carrick the real deal or just another Solskjaer?

There's no denying that Manchester United's new 'short-term' boss Michael Carrick has restored the feel-good factor at Old Trafford.

The 2-0 win over Manchester City last weekend was delivered with such flair and intensity that even longtime rival John Terry compared it to the Ferguson era.

Context matters, though, as this was a City side decimated by injuries, and soundly beaten by Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League three days later.

Still, the ease of the victory, which could easily have ended 4-0 or 5-0, hinted at something fresh in the air.

We've seen this storyline before. In December 2018, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced José Mourinho on an interim basis, United hammered Cardiff 5-1 in his debut, playing with freedom and joy.

He then won 13 of his next 16 games, capped by that remarkable Champions League comeback against PSG. The fan clamor for "Ole" to stay permanent was deafening, and former CEO Ed Woodward gave in. Over three years, that choice proved a resounding failure.

Carrick arrives with a solid reputation, if not the flashiest one. He performed relatively well at Middlesbrough, despite failing to secure promotion in three attempts.

His calmness, poise, and intelligence as a player suggest a deep tactical understanding that could steady the ship at Old Trafford.

The man who occupied the hot seat before Carrick, Ruben Amorim, was sacked after refusing to adapt his system to the players at his disposal and clashing with the board.

Carrick swiftly abandoned the Portuguese's rigid 3-4-3, reverting to an attacking 4-2-3-1 that puts Bruno Fernandes back in his comfort zone.

There is a shortage of top-level managers available to INEOS at the moment, and Carrick can force the board's hand only by winning games in style.

There's no better way to announce himself than with two victories in his first two matches. Beating Arsenal at the Emirates would send shockwaves through the league, reignite the title race, and, crucially, propel United into the top four, ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea.