Last weekend\u2019s 2-0 win over Manchester City <\/a>added Pep Guardiola to the list of managers that Carrick has bested. On Sunday, United face Premier League leaders Arsenal and Carrick will be reunited with Mikel Arteta on the touchline.<\/p>\n DO you believe in Michael Carrick as Manchester United head coach? <\/p>\n Harry Maguire has predicted fans will be behind Carrick\u2026 what would be your message to him?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n Back in 2021 when Carrick took over following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s sacking<\/a>, United beat Arsenal 3-2 in what turned out to be the last of Carrick\u2019s three games in charge.<\/p>\n Carrick\u2019s post-match assessment makes for interesting reading five years down the line\u2026<\/p>\n Carrick beat Unai Emery\u2019s Villarreal<\/a> and drew to Thomas Tuchel\u2019s Chelsea before taking all three points against Arteta\u2019s Arsenal.<\/p>\n United\u2019s team is drastically different to what it was in 2021, but there is still plenty that Carrick can learn from that match five years ago.<\/p>\n Is Manchester United\u2019s XI stronger in 2026 or 2021? <\/p>\n This was the line-up Michael Carrick used to defeat Arsenal in his spell as interim manager<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n After that match, Carrick spoke highly of United\u2019s performance in what he deemed to be an \u201cold school classic\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAll today, I\u2019d had a feeling it was going to be an old-school classic in many ways and even getting to the game tonight, coming on the pitch an hour before, I could feel there was a certain atmosphere about the place and an energy,\u201d Carrick said, as quoted by United\u2019s official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just panned out like that. It was probably the ideal game really, a perfect night. A bit of a ding-dong of a game, end to end, not sure what\u2019s going to happen next. <\/p>\n \u201cTo win the game like that was terrific. I think, for everyone, it was good, for the fans to see that, for the players to sample that and experience that again was great.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael Carrick\u2019s record against Arsenal<\/p>\n Carrick will know from his playing days that United\u2019s clashes with Arsenal are often physical and fierce.<\/p>\n In 32 matches against Arsenal in his playing career, Carrick has won 12 of them and provided six assists along the way.<\/p>\n His last trip to The Emirates as a player came in 2017 when United lost 2-0 under Jose Mourinho.<\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/UIF-10-819x1024.jpg\")
Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2256749707-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Joe Prior\/Visionhaus via Getty ImagesMichael Carrick\u2019s reaction to beating Arsenal 3-2<\/p>\n![\"United\/Arsenal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Predicted-XI-11-819x1024.png\")
Getty Images <\/p>\n