Marc Skinner says that he is expecting goals from Manchester United’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture against Arsenal this evening despite the significance of the game and the two clubs’ excellent defensive records.
The two sides meet at the Leigh Sports Village. Manchester United go into the match top of the table and three points ahead of Arsenal who occupy third place.
Manchester United and Arsenal have conceded a combined total of just 19 goals this season, an average of 0.58 goals per game. When speaking in the pre-match press conference, Skinner said that he expects goals this evening despite the solid defensive records of the two teams.
“I don’t think it’ll be 0-0, I just think it’s the way that we both attack,” Skinner said. “We all know that a good defensive record comes from moments and managing moments comes from good goalkeeping and good defending, but it also comes from having the ball a lot. The less time that the opponents have it, the less time they have to create.
“For us, it is about then trying to dominate and trying to move the opponent. It’ll be fascinating because we know that Arsenal will try and go direct with Stina Blackstenius running behind the line and they’ll make use of the wide channels too. We know what Arsenal like to do and the same with us; we like to drag you in and play from wide or central.
“The reality is that if it’s a 0-0, I’ll be very surprised.”
Manchester United recorded their best result of the season when they won 3-2 at Arsenal back in November. Skinner went on to say that the victory at the Emirates Stadium gave his side belief and a platform for success.
He said “What it did was it gave us a platform for the next run of results and performances and it gave us belief.
“I do think that this will be a different type of game, I don’t think it’ll be the same as that wonderful night.
“That result was a token of all of our hard work and what we have been looking at both internally and externally; how we project ourselves, how we want to be seen. It was that moment that raised our belief in the process and what we are trying to achieve.
“I think it was big for that but I do believe that this game will be different. If we just look back on that, we will lose the moment, so we need to really show how far we have come since then, really show the aggressive nature, really show the energetic nature that we have. We need to take that to Arsenal and see if they have any answers for that.”
Manchester United’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture against Arsenal kicks-off at 7.15pm this evening. Tickets remain on-sale and can be purchased by clicking here.
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