While a derby day win over Manchester City last week left United fans on cloud nine, the on Sunday is an even more impressive result, the visitors stunning the league leaders as their fans delighted in a professional, inventive and at times brilliant performance.

Not even the most diehard fan would have predicted these wins in the opening two games of Carrick's second tenure, but United delivered in style at the Emirates, with recent signings Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha scoring the goals in a deserved win.

And while United's goals came about via both luck and two superb strikes from Dorgu and Cunha, it was a match that reflects extremely positively on Carrick.

The derby wins and away victories live long in the memory but they do not make the foundation of a season. All of United's recent managers have struggled against the so-called "lesser" sides, with Ruben Amorim's iteration in particular often lacking in verve and invention in the final third while also being leaky in defence.

And it means that there will be a cautious excitement among United fans, even if they can revel in an obvious level of improvement over the last two weeks.

With that in mind, attention will quickly turn to next weekend's fixture against Fulham, where United will face an altogether different test in a match where they'll be expected to dominate.

There are still questions to be answered as United hunt a return to the Champions League next season - such as the long-term roles of Cunha and Benjamin Sesko or how the defence copes - but the early signs have been overwhelmingly positive, even if Carrick was quick to urge caution and advise staying "humble" in his post-match press conference.

Carrick was privy to the most recent false dawns at Old Trafford over the last few seasons, and while these first two wins suggest this is more than just another flash in the pan, he knows his side still have plenty to do if they want to . However, he might be surprised by how much a convincing win over Fulham may help do exactly that.