Arsenal v Manchester United: Marcus Rashford has found his “killer instinct” to pose Gunners a major threat in the FA Cup

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plenty of memories of facing Arsenal as a player during the era in which the teams’ rivalry was at its most fiery.

The former striker scored the fifth goal in a 6-1 rout of the Gunners in February 2001 to send United 16 points clear at the top of the table; he started at Old Trafford as Arsene Wenger’s side won 1-0 to clinch the double a year later; and he was on the receiving end of a Sol Campbell elbow which saw the defender controversially red-carded in a 2-2 draw between the teams – a decision which helped shape the 2002-03 title race in United’s favour.

Solskjaer is equipped with more than enough stories to fire up his team ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup fourth round tie at Emirates Stadium, but it is a different match from the 228 previous meetings between the sides which is most relevant to reflect upon.

Just over three years ago, United dented Arsenal’s fading title hopes with a 3-2 win at Old Trafford in a game that announced the arrival of Marcus Rashford. Aged just 18 years and 120 days, the young forward scored twice and set up the other goal on his Premier League debut.

Although he’d netted twice three days previously in a Europa League thrashing of Midtjylland, it was victory over the Gunners which got tongues wagging and prompted his manager, Louis van Gaal, to declare Rashford a “special talent”.

Fast-forward 35 months, two managers and 148 appearances and there is now no doubt that Van Gaal was spot on in his assessment of the United academy graduate.

The coach may have changed but the praise is still just as glowing, with Solskjaer making the case that Rashford is the best striker the Premier League has to offer.

“Harry Kane is injured, so maybe that gives him a better chance to be the best one at the moment,” he said after last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Brighton – a seventh in succession under his management.

“No one beats him on work-rate, attitude and at the moment he’s very confident in front of goal. He finishes, he tries to shoot, he doesn’t think twice about it. He’s playing the best football of his career.”

The fact Rashford has already played 150 times for his boyhood club is remarkable. And while it may have brought about premature grumblings about injuries later in his career from Sam Allardyce this week, his impressive game-time reflects well on United and is proving hugely beneficial.

A list of the players in whose footsteps Rashford is following provides another indication of his standing at United: only club legends George Best, Norman Whiteside and Ryan Giggs reached 150 appearances at a younger age than the Wythenshawe-born forward.

He’s certainly on a hot streak for the time being, having netted in four successive Premier League games and managed five goals in six starts overall under Solskjaer. Previously he’d never scored in more than two straight league games.

Rashford’s recent glut of goals – including a coolly-taken winner at Wembley to down Tottenham and a curled finish into the top corner to see off Brighton – have taken him to 41 for United in total.

A comparison with two former United stars shows he’s keeping good company. A 21-year-old Wayne Rooney took an impressive 101 games to reach the 41-goal mark, while Cristiano Ronaldo got there in 167 matches at the same age.

There’s no doubt that it’s a case of right manager, right time for Rashford and Solskjaer. The Norwegian’s arm-around-the-shoulder approach is in stark contrast to his predecessor and the lighter atmosphere has given his young No9 the confidence and freedom to expressive himself.

The 4-4-2 diamond system Solskjaer has employed of late, with Anthony Martial and Rashford splitting into the channels and Jesse Lingard occupying the central space, is a perfect one for unleashing the young striker’s best attributes. He’s able to play on the shoulder of the last defender, run into space and get shots off.

While Rashford’s purple patch has taken the headlines under Solskjaer, the signs of form were visible during the dying light of the Mourinho era, with four assists and two goals in December before the Portuguese was sacked.

However, while Mourinho was bemoaning a lack of “killer instinct” following a lacklustre 2-1 win over Everton on 28 October when Rashford started ahead of Romelu Lukaku, Solskjaer says he has been able to address the issue by “passing knowledge on”.

Simply put, that distinction is why United find themselves level on points with Arsenal in the league and worrying the opposition manager, with Unai Emery describing them as “a different team” and "very dangerous”.

With Rashford fit and firing, it would be no surprise if he continued his streak tomorrow.