3 Games, 3 Shots On Target, 3 Goals; How Mkhitaryan Is Gradually Becoming Fans Favourite In Manchester United.

As Manchester United go from strength to strength winning games they would ordinarily have drawn in the past, one player that deserves to be mentioned alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba as one of those pivotal to their success is no one else but Armenian international, Henrikh Mkhitaryan who scored his third goal of the season in all competitions in 13 games on Boxing Day against David Moyes’ Sunderland as United ran out 3-1 winners on the night.
Blessed with a top notch ball control skill coupled with his shot accuracy and precision which allows him the luxury to use his physicality and pace to cut inside and shoot or pass to teammates, Mkhitaryan has clearly shown he is a star in the making even though he has been used sparingly by Jose Mourinho this campaign. This season, the attacker took time to adapt to the Premier League having moved from Borussia Dortmund for £25 million as he flopped in his first game (a start) with United losing 2-1 at home to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Having come on in the 62nd minute for Jese Lingard with United a goal up, the Armeanian scored a goal of the season contender, racing ahead of Sunderland defenders to score with a delightful scorpion kick (backheel). The goal which was United’s third on the night was his third goal in his last three shots on target in all competitions stretching from the games/goals against Tottenham, Zorya and Sunderland (tonight). It was the best way to cap his return from the injury sustained against Tottenham earlier in the month. With three goals in 13 games in all competitions, it is clear the stat doesn’t represent what fans expected of him given his 23 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund last season which earned him the Bundesliga Player of the Year award, yet it doesn’t hide the fact that the Armenian will surely end up a Manchester United legend if he continues this way given his commitment, dedication, passion and technical skills coupled with his tactical awareness which have become a spectacle to behold.
“I got the ball behind me so the only thing I could do was hit it with the backheel and I succeeded were Mkhitaryan’s words after his goal. United have now won their last four games which is an improvement from their early season inconsistent form. Having created 20 chances compared to Sunderland’s two from a ball possession of 58% compared to Sunderland’s 42% and 25 shots compared to Sunderland’s seven, one doesn’t need a rocket scientist to explain why United have reduced the gap with 4th placed Arsenal to only four points with 18 games played already. Stocked with attacking players like Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Jose Mourinho’s side have successfully started to convert their dominance to wins as they continue to turn around their season and prove why they were one of the favourites to challenge for the title in the summer although this might be a bridge too far given that leaders Chelsea are already 13 points ahead of them this season.
For now Henrikh Mkhitaryan is on the high and has shown he can replicate his Borussia Dortmund form in Manchester United.
Stats by Opta