Michael Carrick believes he is going to learn plenty by playing
alongside Paul Scholes.
Although Carrick produced an effective performance on his Champions
League debut against Celtic last night, the £18.6million midfield
man was overshadowed not just by two-goal hero Louis Saha but
Scholes as well.
Just like Wayne Rooney, Scholes has spent the past three weeks
kicking his heels in frustration after being banned for his
pre-season dismissal in Amsterdam.
However, while Gordon Strachan's side were largely able to shackle
Rooney, they had no answer to Scholes' promptings.
The 31-year-old set up the last two goals in United's win, with
Strachan and Sir Alex Ferguson agreeing he had been the major
difference between Britain's best-two supported sides on a
pulsating evening at Old Trafford.
It is not a judgment which would meet with any disagreement from
Carrick, who has already discovered what a brilliant player Scholes
is.
"Paul Scholes is just fantastic," said Carrick.
"When you play alongside him, you realise what a special talent he
is.
"He is so intelligent and clever, he makes the game look really
simple and showed it against Celtic by creating those two
goals."
The disguised pass to release Saha for United's second was
inspired, while, given seconds to make his decision, the ball which
released the Frenchman in the build-up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's
winner was equally impressive.
"Paul has this ability to make the game look really easy," said
Carrick.
"Believe me, it is a pretty hard skill to be able to slot people
through gaps when everything is going on around you. Paul can do
that and I felt he was the big difference between the teams."
Although Ferguson tried manfully to bring in a defensive-minded
reinforcement to his midfield before the transfer deadline closed,
moves for Owen Hargreaves and Marcos Senna met with no
success.
It means that, while they make lack something in terms of
destructive play, the partnership between Carrick and Scholes is
set to be extended, particularly as both Ryan Giggs and Park
Ji-sung have now been consigned to frustrating spells on the
sidelines.
"It is up to the manager," said Carrick.
"It worked well against Celtic but who knows what will happen
against Arsenal on Sunday.
"The more I play, the more I will learn about the other lads'
games, the more we will get the rhythm flowing and the better our
overall performances will be."
Although defensive frailties and poor passing meant United's
performance could not be judged as the best of the fledgling
campaign, it was enough to bring them a fifth straight win.
Even without Giggs and Park, the Red Devils have every reason to
approach Sunday's meeting with Arsene Wenger's men in confident
mood.
As a former Tottenham star, it is a game which holds special
significance for Carrick.
However, even if United win and open up a 13-point gap on their old
rivals, the 25-year-old thinks it is too early to start writing the
Gunners off.
"It is too early to start looking past the game itself," he
said.
"We have had a super start to the season and we just want to carry
it on.
"It is a huge game and if we win it, we will be in a strong
position. But it would still be too early to write them off."
