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Marcus Rashford has been labeled a national treasure for his free school meals drive, but it’s not just off the field that he’s making an impact. His hat-trick against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday underscored his growing importance in it.
The Manchester United striker had sealed a remarkable 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain last time in Europe and came off the bench to defeat RB Leipzig with an 18-minute hat-trick at Old Trafford to bring his score to eight goals. in 11 appearances with the club and the national team this season.
“Marcus has shown that he can continue to focus on what is important on and off the court right now,” Solskjaer said after his latest headline-grabbing feats. in the tone.
Rashford’s form is ominous for Arsenal fans. He made a name for himself with two goals against the Gunners in his Premier League debut but, at 22, has now become United’s go-to man for big occasions.
Ahead of the Super Sunday edition of this weekend’s iconic rivalry, we look at the improvement of Rashford …
Rashford’s big game scoring touch
Rashford ranks first in goals against the Big Six since the start of last season
Since the beginning of last season, Rashford has scored nine goals in all competitions against the Premier League’s big six. No player has scored more in that time frame and the feat is all the more impressive given that Rashford has reached that total in just 12 appearances.
Southampton’s Danny Ings, the only other Premier League player to have scored nine goals against the Big Six since the start of last season, needed 16 appearances to do so, while Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, next in the league. list with eight, needed 14.
Many of Rashford’s attacks on teams from the Big Six have proven to be vital.
His double against Chelsea on the opening day of last season helped United on their way to a 4-0 win at Old Trafford. When the two teams met again at the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge last October, he scored both goals, including an impressive free kick, in a 2-1 victory.
He repeated that trick in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the Premier League last December, scoring on either side of a Dele Alli draw to give United three points at Old Trafford. A few days later, he scored another decisive goal when the United team beat Manchester City by the same score.
Sunday, November 1 4:00 pm
Start 4:30 pm
Rashford was also the only Manchester United player to find the net against Liverpool last season, his goal in their October meeting at Old Trafford ensured they held onto the side that ended up fleeing the Premier League title to a draw.
Rashford has also delivered in the Champions League, of course. That hat-trick against Leipzig and his heroics in Paris are no rarities. His impressive win against PSG last week brought back memories of his decisive penalty against the same rival in March 2019.
He scored decisive goals in the Champions League against Benfica and CSKA Moscow in the previous season, and was also instrumental in United’s race to Europa League glory in the 2016/17 campaign, scoring in the quarter-finals. against Anderlecht and the semifinals against Celta de Vigo.
It all started against Arsenal
Rashford is congratulated after scoring against Arsenal
Rashford will be eager to increase his account when United take on Arsenal live Sky sports Sunday afternoon.
The two teams sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table after a poor start to their national campaigns, which means there is pressure to avoid further losing pace.
The meeting with the Gunners is also a reminder of how it all started for Rashford.
It was against Arsenal, of course, that Rashford, still a teenager at the time, made his Premier League debut with Louis van Gaal in February 2016, scoring two goals in a memorable 3-2 win at Old Trafford and becoming in a familiar name in the process.
Rashford’s knack for big chances was evident again a month later, when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, and he again delivered on United’s way to win the Cup. FA that season, hitting what turned out to be a decisive goal in a 2-1 win over West Ham in the quarterfinals.
It’s a trait that Rashford has carried with him from the beginning, in other words, but his scoring feats since the beginning of last season suggest it’s a part of his game that he’s getting even better.
Rashford, already showing maturity beyond his years off the court, is doing the same on him.
The Manchester United big game specialist has already had a week to remember with his hat-trick at Old Trafford against RB Leipzig. Can you do even better in the same venue on Sunday when Arsenal come to town?
Watch Manchester United vs Arsenal on Sky Sports Premier League HD from 4pm on Sunday; Start 16.30 h
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