Erik ten Hag is bringing back the feelgood factor to Manchester United

Erik ten Hag is beginning to suggest he has several clues for reviving Manchester United after their remarkable resurgence from two opening defeats to four wins on the bounce, culminating with Sunday’s emphatic 3-1 victory over Arsenal.

To be inside Old Trafford was to experience the stadium in a rare jubilant mood as United enthusiasts witnessed their team put away the league leaders and end the contest at a canter. The prevailing sense was of surprise at a memory: that this is how it felt during the golden years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign and that feeling may be starting to become present again.

There is no rush to declare Ten Hag’s new team as even close to the finished article – a pointthe Dutchman was shrewd enough to make emphatically afterwards. What is happening is a manager showing he possesses a keen football brain that marries tactical nous, insight into players and opponents, a strong will and, most of all, decisiveness.

Behind United’s rise from the dog days of losing 2-1 at home to Brighton and the 4-0 trouncing at Brentford is Ten Hag making the right calls on the big decisions and enjoying the luck that comes with being brave. And his man-management is markedly improving the squad.

A headline case-study that encapsulates all of this is Marcus Rashford. The forward is up to three goals and two league assists in six appearances compared to his paltry four and two from 25 games last season. All players require confidence but Ten Hag has surmised instantly that Rashford is fuelled by the stuff and figured out how to transfuse it into a footballer whose height, pace, strength and menace are the raw characteristics of the modern forward.

Rashford can still appear insipid and lacking the relentless will to