Grading the performance of Man Utd 1-3 Arsenal: Eriksen could not save the disaster; Hojlund’s promising debut in the future


MAN UTD were stunned by a late Arsenal show at the Emirates.

Erik ten Hag’s men looked like they may hold out for a point despite the Gunners having the lion’s share of the play.

Jonny Evans won’t look back fondly on his ‘second debut’

However, Mikel Arteta’s team snuck in to win it in stoppage time as several of the Dutchman’s late substitutions looked dubious.

After a poor start, United conceded twice in the final 15 minutes to finish with nothing, which was about what they deserved.

ANDRE ONANA – 7

With yet another daring display with the ball at his feet, Onana cemented his status as the anti-De Gea.

The Cameroonian kept the Red Devils tied with a great stop from Saka, but ultimately it was all for nothing.

AARON WAN-BISSAKA – 7

A typical Wan-Bissaka display. One of the best one-on-one defenders in the business but distribution not quite where it needs to be.

The right-back was rescued by VAR after a penalty decision that could have gone either way when Havertz went down in the box.

VICTOR LINDELOF – 6

The Swede looked like Bambi on Ice under the bouncing ball in a game he won’t want to dwell on.

Will be relieved not to have been sent off after an ‘orange card’ foul on Nketiah when the ball had long gone.

LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 7

Didn’t put a foot wrong until just past the hour when he scythed down Nketiah to stop a counter-attack.

Picked up a booking, and what looks like an injury, in the process and was instantly subbed off.

DIOGO DALOT – 7

Playing at makeshift left-back, Dalot could have easily gone under with the pressure Saka was applying in the first half.

However, he adapted well to the challenge and was relatively untroubled after the first half an hour.

CASEMIRO – 5

Arsenal rushed the ex-Real Madrid star like a pack of hyenas as he showed worrying signs of being unable to keep up with the pace.

Completely switched off to allow Odegaard to cancel out Marcus Rashford’s goal straight from the kick-off.

On this evidence, Sofyan Amrabat can’t come into the side soon enough.

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 8

The cultured Danish midfielder was one of few star performers for Man Utd as he covered incredible ground to support the defence and attack.

Brilliant interception and masterful through ball to assist Rashford’s goal.

Christian Eriksen was one of the few bright sparks in an unambitious Man Utd performance

BRUNO FERNANDES – 6

As quiet a first 45 minutes as you’ll ever see from the Man Utd captain.

A bit more bite from the Portuguese star in the second half but one of his more forgettable overall displays.

ANTONY – 6

The often-infuriating bleached blonde Brazilian put in far more defensive work than he gets credit for.

However it was hard to remember him completing a pass in the opposition half.

MARCUS RASHFORD – 7

The England star took his goal brilliantly. However it would have been good to see him more involved in the general play.

Rashford also became a bit predictable in the opposition box as the game went on with his reluctance to do anything other than cut inside onto his right foot.

ANTHONY MARTIAL – 5

The Frenchman was very lucky to see out the transfer window still a Man Utd player, and he put in another insipid display at the Emirates.

Anonymous in the first half before seeing a chance to put the Red Devils ahead in the second comfortably saved by Ramsdale.

SUBS

RASMUS HOJLUND (on for Antony 66)

The £72m Dane certainly puts himself about more than Martial.

Very keen to play with his back to goal, which suggests he may be asked to play the ‘Weghorst’ role rather than being expected to be a go-to goalscorer himself.

HARRY MAGUIRE (on for Lisandro Martinez 66) – 6

The former Man Utd captain appeared so popular with the fans that they were belting out his name when he came on for Lisandro Martinez.

The Arsenal fans, that is.

However, he wasn’t to blame for the defensive capitulation late on.

ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (on for Antony 84) – 7

Garnacho impressed off the bench once again.

He was half an inch away from giving Man Utd a late lead as VAR intervened to disallow his 87th minute goal for offside.

JONNY EVANS (on for Victor Lindelof 84) – 4

It’s very hard to understand what Ten Hag was thinking giving the 35-year-old a late cameo in a fixture like this.

He lost the physical battle with Gabriel to gift Declan Rice Arsenal’s second and then was caught completely out of position for the third.