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​​​​​​​With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended for Manchester Uniteds clash with Arsenal, Jose Mourinho faces a selection dilemma up front. The stats suggest its time to unleash Marcus Rashford through the middle.Arsenals visit to Old Trafford on Saturday stirs special memories for Marcus Rashford. The teenager scored twice in three minutes when he made his Premier League debut in the same fixture last season, helping Manchester United to a memorable 3-2 win and catapulting his name into the headlines.Three days earlier he had netted two goals on his senior bow against Midtjylland, but doing it against a Premier League title contender was a different story. Rashford became a superstar-in-waiting, and the previously unknown youngster finished the season as Louis van Gaals first-choice striker with eight goals in 18 appearances. Nine months on from those thrilling beginnings, Rashford finds himself in a rather different situation. Jose Mourinho made a point of defending his youth policy at his Manchester United unveiling in July, but the critics appeared to be vindicated as Zlatan Ibrahimovic took centre stage and Uniteds rising star started the season on the bench. Marcus Rashford scored twice against Arsenal last season Rashford had to be patient, but he has made a habit of taking his chances. He came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner against Hull in his first competitive appearance under Mourinho in August, and he won his new managers trust with an industrious second-half cameo in the Manchester derby.Rashford was rewarded with a chance to lead the line for Uniteds Europa League trip to Feyenoord a few days later, but he struggled to make an impact in a 1-0 defeat at De Kuip. Ibrahimovic was restored up front, and Rashford has been confined to the flanks ever since.Its an unfamiliar role for the academy product. Rashford revealed he had not played as a winger since the age of 12 or 13 in an interview with Sky Sports in September, and he was clear about his priorities, too. On a personal level, scoring lots of goals is the main objective, he said. Marcus Rashford struck a dramatic winner against Hull in August Four goals in his first six appearances of the campaign augured well, but Rashford has struggled to hit the heights of last season since then. He has not scored in his last seven appearances for United. The barren run stretches to 10 games for club and country. Its the longest of his fledgling career.Rashford hopes the experience of playing out wide will make him a more complete player and Mourinho has been impressed by his defensive work-rate, but his new responsibilities are clearly coming at a cost. A statistical comparison between this season and last reveals his attacking output has dropped in all departments. Marcus Rashford 2015/16 vs 2016/17 Stat 2015/16 2016/17 Games played 18 14 Goals scored 8 4 Assists 2 1 Shots per game 2.0 1.5 Shots on target per game 0.8 0.4 Chances created per game 0.7 0.6 Dribbles attempted per game 4.7 3.3 Dribbles completed per game 1.6 1.0 Touches in opposition box per game 6.5 6.1 Rashford is a penalty box predator who scored with his first shots on his Europa League, Premier League and international debuts. But since moving to the flanks he is shooting less and spending less time in the areas where he is most effective. In Uniteds goalless draw at Anfield last month, he didnt touch the ball once in Liverpools box. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first six months half price Its not just his goal threat which has been diminished. Rashford is creating fewer chances than last season, his dribbles have fallen from 4.7 per game to 3.3, and his crossing stats are those of a striker shoehorned into an unnatural position. Of 25 attempted deliveries, only two have found a team-mate. It gives him a success rate of just eight per cent. Marcus Rashfords heatmap in Manchester Uniteds 0-0 draw with Liverpool Despite the obvious drawbacks of moving Rashford from his favoured position, Mourinhos faith in Ibrahimovic has been unwavering. The Swede went six Premier League games without scoring before his double against Swansea prior to the international break, but he is still the only outfield player to have started every minute of Uniteds campaign.Rashford, of course, is not the only player in the frame to deputise against Arsenal. Wayne Rooney has lost his place in the United team this season, but he could get the nod to start up front on Saturday having recovered from the apparent knee injury which forced him out of England duty. Importance of Carrick The details behind why Michael Carricks return can be the catalyst for Manchester United. Mourinho might be tempted to err on the side of experience when he comes to pick his team, but he would be better off casting his mind back to the last time Arsenal visited Old Trafford. Rashford was the hero that day. Moving him back into his natural position could be Uniteds best hope of claiming another three points against the Gunners. Get a Sky Sports Pass Dont miss Man Utd v Arsenal. Watch live on NOW TV for ￡6.99. No contract.Also See:Nevilles Man Utd-Arsenal previewTylers Man Utd-Arsenal specialRooney celebrations defendedYour clubs Premier League omensNoah Syndergaard Mets Jersey . 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Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short is too important a player for us not to get a long-term deal done.Short tied Cincinnatis Geno Atkins and Aaron Donald of the Rams for the league lead in sacks by a tackle with 11 last season.Somewhere along the line, those are good guys, theyll figure it out, Rivera said following practice. I believe they will. Hes too important a player for us, and KK likes where he is. Well see where it all unfolds.Rivera couldnt say when that might be.Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman doesnt negotiate once the season begins. There are 15 days between Wednesday and the Sept. 8 opener at Denver -- a rematch of Super Bowl 50.Talk of Shorts contract have been so quiet that Rivera hadnt been asked about negotiations for weeks unttil Wednesday.ddddddddddddShort and his representation are believed to be looking for a mulityear deal in the $17 million per year range that Philadelphias Fletcher Cox got during the offseason. The Panthers are believed to be in the $14 to $15 million range.The sixth-highest paid defensive tackle is Jacksonvilles Malik Jackson, who is making $14.25 million a year.Short said at the beginning of training camp that its not about the contract, its about helping this team.Rivera said the contract has not been a distraction during training camp.Its gone very well, he said. Hes done some really nice things, and not just what you see in practice and in games, but overall hes really done some nice things. ' ' '