For Martin Ødegaard and Arsenal, only victory was good enough, if they were to keep up with Manchester City in the title race – they managed to do that.
But at the same time as the Norwegian and the gang from London could celebrate three points, the entire United team heard it from the experts. Former United player Wayne Rooney was clear in his speech.
– The team looks disjointed. It is a team of individuals, and that is worrying, says Rooney to Sky Sports.
– Must be ruthless
Rooney says the team has so many injured players that they have no options left. For example, to Casemiro, who was heavily criticized after the late goal.
– Players get injured, but as a manager you have to be ruthless and take that option away from them. Unless you have a serious injury, you must want to be on the pitch. And to me that doesn’t seem to be the case, says Rooney.
Nor did Sky Sports‘ pundit Roy Keane show much mercy after the defeat at Old Trafford.
CRITICAL: Sky Sports‘ pundit Roy Keane.
Photo: JASON CAIRNDUFF / Reuters
– Arsenal have come to Old Trafford over the years and had a hard time, but I bet they couldn’t fathom how bad United were, says Keane.
He is particularly critical of ten Hag’s men in the last half hour.
– That United team there… they are so bad.
– They are so bad
Arsenal’s winning goal came 20 minutes into the first half.
IMPORTANT: Captain Ødegaard could stretch his arms in the air for three points.
Photo: Dave Thompson/AP
Ben White played the ball to Kai Havertz who was all alone on the right wing. The German dragged the ball down to the dead-line, before sending it in front of goal where Leandro Trossard steered it in behind André Onana from close range.
On the TV pictures, it first looked like Havertz was offside, but Casemiro nullified it when he jogged slowly out of his own penalty area.
– Casemiro must ask out. I don’t know what he’s doing,” said Sky Sports‘ Roy Keane.
MANAGEMENT: Havertz found Trossard in the box who headed in 1-0. Casemiro on the far right of the picture.
MANAGEMENT: Havertz found Trossard in the box who headed in 1-0. Casemiro on the far right of the picture.
CELEBRATION: The Arsenal players, with Martin Ødegaard in the middle, celebrated Trossard’s 1-0 goal.
– Casemiro has had to accept a lot of criticism recently, and he will have to take some more. He has to be faster than that. “When he’s not, he’s in trouble,” said Gary Neville.
– You don’t have to ask 100 percent, but get on the field. This fight is hard enough, you have to get the basics right and he hasn’t got the basics right. An experienced player makes his way up the pitch, Keane continued.
And it wasn’t just the Brazilian who got to hear it:
Arsenal player will support Tottenham
For Manchester United, this season has been tough. Most recently in the previous match, there was a brutal 0-4 loss for Crystal Palace. Experts and big voices have time and again called for and predicted the departure of manager Erik ten Hag.
However, he will have an opportunity to give the Manchester United supporters some joy at the end of the season, if he takes the team out of the FA Cup final against Manchester City on 25 May.
CELEBRATION BRAKE: Manchester City can quickly spoil the joy for both Arsenal and Manchester United.
Foto: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
For Arsenal, the title dream lives on until the last round.
– They live in the hope that their rivals from North London, Tottenham, can help them on Tuesday night, says Neville after Arsenal’s victory against United.
Manchester City face Tottenham on Tuesday.
– We will be the biggest Tottenham fans. All together. Let’s hope for the best,” Havertz told Sky Sports after the game.
Who will win the Premier League?
Arsenal take it in the end Manchester City win this year again Uncertain
Show result
This is how the Premier League table looks like before City’s game and the last round:
Published 12.05.2024, at 19.24 Updated 12.05.2024, at 22.34