Amorim admits Man Utd fans are 'fed up' and he won't get as long as Arteta at Arsenal

A lowly finish, disciplining star players and acrimony towards the ownership: are there similarities between Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim?

Amorim has triumphed at Arsenal in penalty shootouts with Sporting and United but knows the challenge awaiting his side in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday is of a different magnitude.

Amorim suffered his first defeat as United manager away to Arsenal in December, having forecast a "storm" at his pre-match press conference for the game.

Ruben Amorim insists he will not get as much time to revive Manchester United as Mikel Arteta has had at Arsenal. Arteta took over as Arsenal coach in December 2019 and the club won the FA Cup eight months later in a behind-closed-doors final due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arsenal finished eighth in Arteta’s first two full seasons in charge, trophyless, and their lowest positions since 1995.

Arteta’s future was in serious doubt in August 2021 after Arsenal lost their first three league games without scoring, including a 5-0 hiding at Manchester City, but Arsenal stuck with the Spaniard.

The Gunners have finished second in the last two seasons and are top of the Premier League table with 11 games to go this term.

Amorim, who succeeded Erik ten Hag in November, has already experienced turbulence in his short time at Old Trafford, with United 14th in the table after only two wins in their last 10 games in all competitions.

The 40-year-old is yet to win a home game in the Premier League and knows turning around the club’s fortunes will be a long-term project, but he is under no illusions that he will be afforded the same patience as Arteta.

"I won’t have as much time as Arteta, that is clear because of the situation," Amorim said. "But I think we are in a different moment also. I think people are a bit fed up with our position in the league, so we have to show some signs of improvement, even with some defeats, because I think people will understand the defeats if they see some improvements in the team."

Amorim has acted decisively with Marcus Rashford, who was omitted from 11 out of 12 matchday squads before he joined Aston Villa on loan on February 2. Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped from the United squad for the Manchester derby victory at City in December.

United’s only realistic route back to the Champions League next season is through winning the Europa League, with Amorim’s men drawing 1-1 in their last-16 first leg at Real Sociedad on Thursday night.

Arsenal annihilated PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in their Champions League round-of-16 first leg on Tuesday and have two extra days to prepare for this weekend fixture. United could still be without ten players through injury but striker Chido Obi will be available again after he was omitted from their Europa League squad.