When Manchester United's starting line-up for this evening's clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford is confirmed an hour ahead of kick-off, all eyes are going to be in search of one name — Cristiano Ronaldo.
In a bold move, United caretaker boss Michael Carrick decided to drop the Portugal international to the bench against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, paving the way for him to stiffen up his midfield options and deploy Bruno Fernandes in a new-look false nine position.
And while Carrick's tactical approach saw United secure a respectable point away from home against the league leaders, the decision to leave Ronaldo out of the firing line remained a huge talking point for no shortage of reasons.
Some critics have suggested that Ronaldo has been the route of United's troubles this season, but that claim is pure nonsensical; he is the club's top goalscorer this term with 10 goals, has single-handedly dragged them into the last-16 of the Champions League and United have not won a game in which he has not started since his return.
Admittedly, Carrick's decision to leave him out of the side on Sunday did not prove to be too damaging, with a decent point being earned at Stamford Bridge. However, against Arsenal, United are going to be expected to be more expressive when going forward, make things happen and put Mikel Arteta's side on the back foot.
After all, they are chasing a first home win in the Premier League since September.
Although Arsenal are unlikely, you would think, to pose as big a danger as Chelsea did, the Gunners will be no pushovers. Aside from their recent 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, the north Londoners have been in terrific form, amassing 23 points from the last 30 up for grabs. That is impressive to say the least. Furthermore, the Gunners have been relatively strong defensively recently, too, keeping three clean sheets in their last four outings.
However, despite their recent good form, Arsenal do have the ability to collapse, as proven against Liverpool less than a fortnight ago. Chelsea and Manchester City — although it was much earlier in the season, before Arteta's side had found their feet — also found ways to dismantle the Gunners.
City put five past them and Chelsea, through Romelu Lukaku and Reece James, ran out 2-0 winners in a very comfortable victory.
A common theme of the three teams' triumphs over Arsenal this season, by and large, have been as a result of getting the ball into wide areas, hitting early crosses and piling bodies into the box.
Liverpool caused havoc down both flanks through the pace of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, City found joy with Gabriel Jesus and Jack Grealish pulling the strings and both of Chelsea's goals at the Emirates came as a result of James bursting forward from right wing-back.
Now, United are unlikely to approach this evening's contest with wing-backs, but in Jadon Sancho — who will be looking to score for the third game in a row — and Marcus Rashford they have two players who can cause no shortage of damage with their pace and trickery.
If the pair find joy down the flanks, and show enough confidence and desire to swing crosses into the box at the earliest opportunity possible, it could be a field day for Ronaldo. Furthermore, his ability to use his tall and physical frame to retain possession could result in him swinging the ball out wide for either Sancho or Rashford to get in behind, exploit space and find themselves in with a chance of getting the better of Aaron Ramsdale in the Gunners' goal.
Admittedly, Rashford and Sancho, certainly this season, have not reached the levels Salah and Mane have, but their pace and ability to supply could cause endless problems if United get the ball out wide and flood bodies into the box.
Ideally, Ronaldo ought to be joined in the penalty area by Donny van de Beek and Fernandes, should Carrick be brave enough to start both of them in an attack-minded midfield.
United, of course, are going to have to be alert to danger at the other end. After all, Arsenal have players who can cause damage in their own final third, such as Bukayo Saka and the ever-improving Emile Smith Rowe.
But United know they need to put on a show for their own fans. A blueprint has been produced. The question is: can they follow it?
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
