Hojlund warns Reds need to be focused

Hojlund warns Reds need to be focused

Rasmus Hojlund admits Manchester United need to be laser focused on set-pieces when facing Arsenal on Sunday.

The Emirates FA Cup third-round tie at 15:00 GMT is a repeat of our Premier League trip to the Emirates Stadium in December.

On that occasion, Ruben Amorim’s side competed well, going in goalless at the break, but were undone by two second-half corners, with defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba scoring the goals.

In truth, the Gunners were a major threat from set-plays throughout the encounter and their prowess in such situations has been well documented.

Hojlund: I gave my dad the medal! Video

Hojlund: I gave my dad the medal!

CUP MEMORIES | Rasmus Hojlund recalls last year’s ‘special’ Wembley triumph, as he looks ahead to Arsenal away…

Hojlund, who made his United debut at the north London ground and scored against Mikel Arteta’s men in pre-season, understands it is an area where we must pay particular attention to this weekend.

“It’s a tough first opponent and away as well,” he told club media. “But we’re going to go for it and, and try to go for it again this year.

“It’s a good game and the Emirates is a nice stadium. The pitch is very good. I had my debut there as well. So it’s a special place for me and a good opponent. I’m looking forward to it.

“It can be [a good thing that we played there not long ago], if we do it right. I think we need to be sharp at set-pieces, they have been been very good on that, and they scored twice from that last time around.

“So yeah, very focused there. Just trying to keep improving and do what the manager’s saying and I think we will be good.”

The Reds will be backed by our noisy away supporters in the capital, hoping we can follow up last Sunday’s impressive performance in the 2-2 draw at Premier League leaders Liverpool by inflicting a second home cup defeat of the week on the Gunners, after their 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg loss to Newcastle United.

“I think both at home, but especially away, the fans are very, very good,” the Denmark international added. “Like at home, obviously we have the home crowd, so it’s going to be the ones probably we hear the most.

“But the away crowd is doing very, very well and you can always hear them, and that’s special, especially when you go to a place like the Emirates, where they also have a lot of fans there. So yeah, [they are] very, very important.”

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