ALAN SHEARER has branded the Manchester United team against Arsenal as the “worst I’ve seen.”
Erik ten Hag was forced to pick a starting XI from a squad ravaged by injuries, particularly in defence, before the Red Devils fell to a 1-0 defeat against the league leaders.
It was the club’s first defeat at Old Trafford against the Gunners since 2020 and the first time since 2006/07 that Arsenal have done the double over Man Utd.
On current form it seemed likely Arsenal could romp to an easy win, but for all Man Utd’s defensive improvement they never looked like scoring against statistically the best defence in the division.
Regardless, Shearer did not hold back in his assessment of the team when speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast.
After praising the performance of William Saliba, the Newcastle and Blackburn legend said: “It helps when you’ve not got much in front of you that you’re playing against doesn’t it.
“Goodness me. That Man Utd team, I think that’s the worst Man Utd team I’ve seen in my lifetime.”
That team consisted of the ever present duo of Andre Onana in goal and Diogo Dalot at full-back. They were joined by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jonny Evans and Casemiro in a makeshift backline.
Then Kobbie Mainoo– one of the few bright lights of the season – was joined by Sofyan Amrabat and Scott McTominay in midfield.
Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund were then fielded in attack.
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Shearer added: “You can’t fault their effort, they tried. But ability wise, I know they’ve got loads of injuries but would you really argue against me?”
Man Utd are one defeat away from having their worst-ever Premier League season in terms of points – they scored just 58 points in the 2021/22 season and are currently on 54 with two games to go.
But how does the team fielded against Arsenal compare to the team from that season? Well for starters, two of the players are the same.
In goal there was club icon David de Gea. He was well past the peek of his powers by this point but remained generally reliable despite seeing 57 goals go in.
In defence, one of the few decent players of this season in Dalot had his first major year as a regular starter at Man Utd and often filled at left-back.
Alex Telles was the primary left back with 21 league appearances in the position that season.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof were the main centre-back pairing with Raphael Varane dogged by various injuries throughout the season.
In midfield, the much maligned pairing of McTominay and Fred were in action, though there was a tweak to the team in that the Brazilian was allowed to get further forward more often.
Bruno Fernandes sat ahead of them, missing just 301 minutes of the entire league season.
The attack was led by Cristiano Ronaldo who returned 24 goals despite turning 37 that season and played the third most minutes of anyone in the squad behind De Gea and Fernandes.
Jadon Sancho appeared in 31 games and seemed to be finding his feet under Ralf Rangnick on the right wing after a tumultuous start.
The left wing was a more heavily rotated position, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga playing almost identical minutes.
Rashford struggled heavily with injury that season, marking his worst in a Red Devils shirt, while Elanga was a raw academy graduate.
If you count Rashford in the XI over Elanga due to playing 19 more minutes of league football, then only four of the 11 players have left the club permanently – those being De Gea, Telles, Fred and Ronaldo.
A number of these players look set to depart in the near future, however, with new Man Utd bosses Ineos set to have a major clearout.
Lindelof, Maguire and Sancho look destined to leave the club within the next few windows, with the latter already on loan at former club Borussia Dortmund.
Indeed, such has been the mess this season that the club’s annual end of season awards have been scrapped for the second time in three seasons.
SunSport's verdict on Man Utd flops
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have a busy summer ahead to get Man Utd's squad in order for next season. Below SunSport gives it verdict on how they should deal with the Red Devils flops this summer.
Andre Onana – STAY: After a dodgy start at Old Trafford Onana has proven to be one of the more reliable members of the squad this season despite being peppered with shots constantly.
Altay Bayindir – GO: Reports in February suggested Bayindir was unhappy with his bit part role at Man Utd amid interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray. If profit can be made on a sale then it should be done.
Tom Heaton – STAY: Veteran goalkeeper Heaton, 38, is a reliable back-up and is on a relatively small wage at the club. So long as he is happy it makes sense to keep him.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – GO: Wan-Bissaka, 26, has never managed to make the right-back position his own. With his contract up in 2025 it makes sense to cash in now.
Diogo Dalot – STAY: Dalot, 26, has been one of Man Utd’s most consistent performers this season.
Raphael Varane – GO: If it wasn’t for his injury record there would be a strong shout to keep Varane, but costs need to be cut to allow the squad to be freshened up.
Harry Maguire – GO: Maguire has showed he has the right character to be at Man Utd but overall ability and desired profile are another matter, with Maguire too slow to play in a high line defence.
Lisandro Martinez – STAY: Martinez, 26, is second to none in terms of build up play. He needs a long-term defensive partner on the right side and to cut out the injuries which have plagued him this season.
Jonny Evans – GO: Veteran campaigner Evans could easily be on the stay list if he was only going to be a bit part player. But he has shown his advanced years at times this season.
Victor Lindelof – GO: Lindelof, 29, has been reliable if not unremarkable in his Man Utd career. He has one year left on his contract so should be moved on if a decent transfer fee can be got for him.
Willy Kambwala – STAY: He should be given the opportunity to mature for a few years behind a senior CB pairing before stepping into the first team as a starter or being moved on.
Luke Shaw – GO: One of the Premier League’s best left-backs when fit, Shaw has been a good servant when available. But alas that has been his Achilles heel once again this season.
Tyrell Malacia – STAY: Malacia, 24, was decent enough to earn some merit in his first season at Man Utd before injury ended his season and inadvertently led to his second season being a write off.
Sofyan Amrabat – GO: Amrabat, 27, looked like a world beater at the Qatar World Cup with Morocco. But he’s had an underwhelming season in England and his loan spell will almost certainly not be made permanent.
Casemiro – GO: An alarming physical decline has seen him turn from key star to burden. If a club is willing to buy the 32-year-old – who has two more years on his contract – then United should snatch their hand off.
Christian Eriksen – GO: Eriksen proved a useful asset and Ineos should look to bring in another player with similar traits, but frankly his legs have looked gone towards the end of this season.
Kobbie Mainoo – STAY: The first of the so-called untouchables, Mainoo has been a rare glimmer of hope in the Red Devils midfield this season.
Mason Mount – STAY: Mount can be given the benefit of the doubt until summer 2025 at least after a debut season riddled with injury.
Scott McTominay – STAY: McTominay, 27, has proven himself to be a brilliant plan B off the bench this season, and that is exactly why Ineos should look to keep him.
Bruno Fernandes – STAY: Man Utd’s best player since his arrival just over four years ago, Fernandes, 29, remains second-to-none when it comes to creating chances while his tenacity boosts those around him.
Antony – GO: There’s a case to argue that Antony may be the worst pound-for-pound signing in Premier League history. Despite some memorable moments he simply isn’t Man Utd quality.
Anthony Martial – GO: Ultimately Martial needs to be let go when his deal runs out this summer after an appalling injury record of late.
Marcus Rashford – STAY: As easy as it would be to say Rashford should leave the club this summer, it is difficult to look at the market and find many available players capable of scoring 30 goals a season.
Alejandro Garnacho – STAY: Another third of the untouchables trio, Garnacho has made the right-wing his own since coming into it. He’s a raw talent but has shown he has the quality to improve.
Rasmus Hojlund – STAY: A slow burner in his first Man Utd season, the 21-year-old has often been starved of supply which has led to him being unable to get the goals his movement and unselfish play often merits.
Amad Diallo – STAY: In the fleeting moments he has been on the pitch for Man Utd this season, Diallo has looked dangerous and exciting. He should be given a chance to flourish with some proper chances in the first team across a whole season.