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Michael Carrick maintained his composed demeanour amid growing speculation over his future after Manchester United secured a dramatic 3–2 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, their first win at the venue in eight years.
United’s interim manager avoided being drawn into discussions about whether he harbours ambitions of becoming the club’s next permanent head coach, instead choosing to share a lighter moment from the night — revealing that his children were among the travelling supporters celebrating in the away end.
The visiting fans were in full voice after Matheus Cunha scored United’s impressive third goal and again at the final whistle, as around 3,000 supporters marked a memorable night in north London. Carrick’s name continued to ring out long after the match ended, underlining the renewed optimism surrounding the club.
Watching from the directors’ box, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe appeared visibly pleased. Positive moments have been in short supply since he assumed control of football operations at Old Trafford, making the result all the more significant.
The victory extended Carrick’s flawless start as United manager, with back-to-back wins from his first two matches in charge. It is a feat former manager Ruben Amorim achieved only once during his 14-month spell, when a three-match winning run earlier this season earned him the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award for October.
Under Carrick, United have now collected six points in two games. Amorim needed five matches to reach seven points, before suffering defeats in his next three outings. Notably, Carrick’s side have taken maximum points against teams currently sitting first and second in the league, doubling the tally United managed from their previous three fixtures against Leeds, Wolves and Burnley — all of whom are among the bottom five.
Just six weeks ago, Carrick was not widely considered a serious contender for the permanent role, with Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner viewed by many as a more likely option.
However, after successive statement wins and a rejuvenated atmosphere around the team, Carrick’s credentials are increasingly difficult to ignore.