Skinner: We can get under the skin of Arsenal

Last season’s victory at the same ground went down as one of our favourite moments of 2022/23 and the Reds are aiming to replicate that this weekend. 

United have won the last three games in all competitions and drew 2-2 with the Gunners earlier in the current campaign at a packed-out Leigh Sports Village.

Skinner spoke to the press this Thursday morning about the game, the challenges at the top of the table and picking his goalkeeper. You can watch the full media briefing below or scroll down to read his key comments.

WE HAVE TO GET UNDER THEIR SKIN

“Arsenal are a difficult team. We know they play nice football and have fantastic individuals. I think it's going to be tough. We have to be that agitator. We have to be the one that can get under the skin. We have to be the team that that doesn't just try and win one way. And I think that's going to be key going into this game.

“We're going to have to run a lot. I have no doubt about that. We're going to have to energise and we have to try and silence a massive crowd. If not, it could be a long day. So we know the challenge we're going to face. But we have to be the ones that can get under Arsenal's skin and and make sure that we try and perform to the best of our ability.”

TITLE CHALLENGE VERY DIFFICULT

“The number of points between us and Chelsea is obviously great and they don't lose many games. So on historical data, that's going to be very difficult. But for us, what we have to do is go and perform against Arsenal. I think we're unbeaten in four against Arsenal and we need to be the team that gets under the skin of Arsenal. I have no doubt about that. We have to try and win the game and that's what we're going to try and do.”

IT'S AN EXCITING TIME AT UNITED

“As somebody that admires high performance, Sir Jim [Ratcliffe] coming in is going to be a welcome investment in the whole club. It’s an exciting time. You can clearly see that we're pushing towards developing the idea of how we want us to look. I know the team are really excited, but we do also have games to play. That's the beauty of being in the sport, day to day. We've got to focus on what we can control, which is trying to beat Arsenal on Saturday. So, I think everyone at the club, you can feel feel the energy, feel the movement and I think it's really important. It's an exciting time.”

JAYDE WILL BE MISSING

“Everybody should be available apart from Jayde Riviere. She obviously took a knock and so she will probably miss the game and she's rehabbing. Apart from that, everybody else, barring the long-term injuries, should be available and in contention for the game.”

GEYSE'S INTERNATIONAL DUTY

“Geyse loves to play for Brazil as well. It obviously feels like home for her. It’s her common language as well, which is always really important for a player developing. Geyse will leave after the [Arsenal] game. So we have her available for this game. Then we'll obviously reserve the right and judgment on [when she comes back]. Depending on where Brazil are at at that point as well, I think is obviously really important. I think it will be the preference probably for her to stay with the national team. I think that is healthy and we'll have to go on without her for a game after that should we need to.”

PHALLON’S A FANTASTIC GOALKEEPER

"I think whenever you've looked at my games before, if you look at the FA Cup last year, Sophie Baggaley didn't play. I played Mary [Earps} in the FA Cup and I've continued to do that so far this season. I recently had a meeting with Phallon [Tullis-Joyce] just to catch up really and just to reiterate the quality she has. She's a fantastic goalkeeper, but she's also behind the world's number one goalkeeper, that's the level. The beauty of Phallon is that she wants to raise her game to try and get to Mary's standard. Mary's different in the mind, the way she thinks, the way she moves, the way she prepares, she almost sees the danger before it comes. I'm in that fortunate but unfortunate position of having to not play one of them."

HOME GAMES

We'd love your support at Leigh Sports Village, and Old Trafford on 18 May, in our remaining WSL home games this season:

Sun 17 Mar: Bristol City (12:00 GMT)
Sun 31 Mar: Everton (14:00 BST)*
Sun 21 Apr: Tottenham (12:00 BST)*
Sun 18 May: Chelsea (15:00 BST)**

*Times and dates TBC
**This game is being played at Old Trafford

You can buy tickets for all of these games here.