In the Red Corner returns this week with a look at Manchester United’s surge in form.

It was around the 59th minute that hearts began to flutter nervously. Manchester United had been here many times this season: a goal up at home with chances created but all of it against a goalkeeper playing out of his skin. As memories of Stoke, West Ham, Arsenal and Burnley began to loom ominously, the crowd murmured restlessly. Enter Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

United have won 4 Premier League matches on the bounce for the first time since the very beginning of the season and the signs look right for them to extend that run.

United’s new boys blend with yestermen

It wasn’t too long ago that Eric Bailly was being hailed as the signing of United’s extravagant transfer window. Through no fault of his own, he can no longer lay claim to that title. While Bailly’s impressive start to his United career has been hampered by injury, it is the stark improvement of his fellow signings that have caught the eye.

After starting the season in red hot form, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goals appeared to dry up, prompting questions of his age and commitment. In almost defiant response, he has scored 11 goals in his last 10 games and has been central to United’s recent resurgence. With two assists and a goal, Zlatan was man of the match and, while quiet for large parts of the game, was at the epicentre of all that was dangerous going forward. For most United fans, 20 goals would have been a very successful return for their high profile free agent acquisition given the dearth of goals last season. With 17 goals to his name already this season, he has equalled Martial’s top scoring tally last year. It’s still only December.

Integral to Zlatan’s recent prominence has been the telepathic connection he has struck with Paul Pogba. Pogba has been an easy target for United critics, who point to his price tag as evidence that United have “abandoned their traditions” of “spending money the right way.” When he didn’t make an instant impact, criticism only intensified. But Pogba has grown into his new role at United and has proven himself integral to a fine-tuned tactical system that plays to his strengths. Against Sunderland, he was always open for the pass, particularly from Carrick, and changed United’s possession from passive to purposeful with ambitious and probing passes.

For me, the highlight of Pogba’s performance was when, in the second half, he could be seen urging his teammates on as nerves threatened to set in. It’s a sign of confidence – you can’t demand more of your teammates unless you feel comfortable doing so. And in a squad that began the season with a serious lack of leadership, Pogba’s character and passion inspired both teammates and the fans, who like nothing more than a player who plays with a fire in his belly. Add a sprinkling of stardust, evident in his curling effort that shaved the post, and United fans can feel increasingly confident in the club’s on-field return on their marquee signing.

While much was expected of United’s high profile signings, there were a number of players for whom the only expectation was that they no longer be at United at the close of the summer transfer window. Michael Carrick only received a new contract when Jose Mourinho joined the club and it seemed a symbolic gesture at best, as he struggled to break into a team that seemed brimming with options in midfield. His recent sustained inclusion in the starting 11 has seen a sharp upturn in United’s form and it’s hard to deny a correlation – United have won all but 2 games in which Carrick has played, neither of which were losses.

Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo were United’s defensive pariahs, lambasted for injuries and error prone performances. Few United fans would have shed tears if either, or even both, had left in the summer. Seeing both players line up together would have represented the worst fears of many United fans. Yet, they have established a centre-back pairing that has played an important role in the recent run of victories. Phil Jones has shown he’s a pretty decent defender when he ventures out of the treatment room, while Rojo in particular looks a player reborn, winning aerial challenges and crunching tackles with the kind of good judgment of which he appeared utterly incapable until late. Much has been made of United’s new signings, but the rejuvenation of the men doomed to yesterday’s scrap heap is just as heartening.

Mkhitaryan Magic

Around the time Jesse Lingard scuffled with two Sunderland players in quick succession and the game threatened to descend into the scrappy mess that would favour Sunderland far more than the home team, Jose Mourinho turned to the bench and motioned for Mkhitaryan’s introduction. Immediately, United’s attack had more dynamism, as the playmaker cut inside and curled a shot just past the post. Miki takes United’s attack to another level: he plays with the speed and direct running that brings the best out of Zlatan, the intelligence to invite more from Pogba and Herrera in United’s link up play, and his lock-pick passing is vital against opponents who sit deep. United have an array of attacking talent at their disposal and Mourinho seems to rotate his starting playmakers based on the opposition as well as players’ form.

Based on the latter, Mkhitaryan should be as omnipresent on the team sheet as Ibrahimovic and De Gea. As the Armenian persists in his rich vein of form, questions have been asked as to whether this is because of, or in spite of, Mourinho’s strong-handed treatment towards him at the beginning of the season. I’m inclined to say it is because of it. Mourinho challenged Mkhitaryan by dropping him, and Miki responded by doubly applying himself and is reaping the benefits of his tough mindset. Anthony Martial seems to be going through a similar spell at the moment, with Mourinho and national team manager Didier Deschamps urging the player to apply himself more in training. Martial is a prodigious talent and I desperately hope he comes through in similar fashion – he’ll be a hugely better player for it. But back to Miki, already adored by the Old Trafford faithful who roared with approval when he rose from the bench. He is loved by the fans who are desperate to see him play and boy did he repay them. A simply breathtaking airborne backheel which, while offside, showcases the special player he is. If Mkhi stays fit, he will be key to United maintaining this recent run of form that has seen them go 11 games unbeaten.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a column on Manchester United.

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