Mikel Arteta has already proved Arsenal have the formula to stop Man United star Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has already been nullified by the Gunners and will have to be kept quiet once again at Emirates Stadium
JoriPress
Bruno Fernandes has been one of the best performing players in the Premier League since his arrival from Sporting CP a year ago this week.
The Portuguese midfielder has proved to have a huge impact on Manchester United's ability to deliver wins, with very few opponents managing to nullify the 26 year-old for 90 minutes.
However, Arsenal are one of the few teams who have been able to achieve that, with Fernandes failing to reach his usual level against the Gunners when he faced them at Old Trafford in November.
Mikel Arteta's outfit won the clash 1-0, having imposed a tactical plan which restricted the Red Devils from attacking as they usually would.
Fernandes is averaging 3.3 shots per 90 in the Premier League this season, while also posting 3.1 key passes per 90, which are defined as passes that lead directly to shots.
Those numbers are impressive and place the United man amongst the division's most valuable attackers, but he took just one shot against Arsenal and registered one key pass.
Per Statsbomb's shot-creating actions metric - which covers the two offensive actions directly leading to a shot, such as passes, dribbles and drawing fouls - Fernandes typically averages 5.4 per 90, but managed just one against Arsenal.
He was substituted by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the 74th minute; the only two occasions this season in which he's left the field earlier was against Leeds United with a 6-2 lead, and at half-time against Tottenham after Anthony Martial was sent off on the 28th minute.
Arteta opted for a 3-4-3 shape on the day, with Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny forming a partnership in central midfield. The duo generally governed the pitch, with Fernandes posting only 54 touches which was 25 fewer than his per 90 average.
Partey in particular was crucial to the victory; he has regained fitness of late and should be available for selection on Saturday.
Arteta has gradually moved away from 3-4-3, as he's now using 4-2-3-1, but the positive is that formation still allows for a double pivot in central midfield, meaning that Fernandes could be managed by Arsenal's midfield pair similarly to before despite the change in shape.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners will be able to handle United with the same proficiency as before, but if Fernandes is managed with the same degree of authority, it will go a long way towards securing three points.
