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Manchester United to beat Arsenal in the race for Barcelona star player

By Bence Bocsak

FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1178800802,1196064545 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United (L) and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal. Arsenal FC and Manchester United meet on January 1,2020 in a Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium in London,England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 03: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League group L match between AZ Alkmaar and Manchester United at ADO Den Haag on October 03, 2019 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1178800802,1196064545 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United (L) and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal. Arsenal FC and Manchester United meet on January 1,2020 in a Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium in London,England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 03: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League group L match between AZ Alkmaar and Manchester United at ADO Den Haag on October 03, 2019 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Manchester United could be the team to win the race for one of Barcelona’s most coveted players over their rivals, Arsenal, in the January transfer window.

Manchester United and Arsenal have long endured a tumultuous and fierce rivalry. Back in the 2000s when it was the two teams battling for the Premier League title, year after year, the games on and off the pitch between the two sides were ferocious.

One can only remember the mind games and tactical battles between two of the game’s finest managers in Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson. The vicious tackles by Roy Keane and Patrick Viera. The sensational solo goals by Thierry Henry or Cristiano Ronaldo. It was a true spectacle. The game everyone wanted to watch. The game which fans watched with eyes glued on the pitch. You didn’t want to miss a single second of the action.

The fortunes of both club’s have changed over the developing decade. Clubs legends have come and departed and now both Arsenal and the Red Devils linger in mediocrity.

Both are miles away from competing for the Premier League title. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mikel Arteta the two sides are undergoing a kind of metamorphosis in a bid to get back to where they belong.

In that ambition it seems the two managers have encountered one another at a crossroads. According to Spanish outlet El Desmarque via the Daily Mail, both Arsenal and Manchester United are desperate to land Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti in a bid to strengthen their defence.

Which means the fierce rivalry between the two clubs will continue, even if it is away from the pitch. The question however of which club Samuel Umtiti will chose should be simple.

Manchester United’s defence is looking far more solid and Samuel Umtiti could have a much more comfortable time settling in alongside Harry Maguire who is a top class defender, rather than any of Arsenal’s defensive options.

At Manchester United Samuel Umtiti could be the final piece of the jigsaw whilst at Arsenal he will just be part of an incomplete set. The United defence has far more potential to become a solid unit rather than Arsenal’s shambolic defensive set-up.

At United Samuel Umtiti would also be joining his World Cup winning teammate in Paul Pogba which could also help him settle in.

Therefore it is a simple choice for the current Barcelona defender.

Next. Solskjaer set to complete his first January signing. dark

What do you think would Samuel Umtiti be a good signing for Manchester United?