Harry Maguire, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic, and Jesse Lingard have been criticized heavily for their poor performance in the first half of Manchester United's clash with Arsenal. The quartet's failure to step up saw the Red Devils fall two goals behind in the first half of the New Year day's fixture.
Things fell apart for the Old Trafford outfit in the early moment of the clash with Nicolas Pepe benefiting from a deflection to hand Arsenal the lead. The Ivorian striker's goal was also as a result of a lapse in concentration on the part of Luke Shaw who failed to spot the winger's run behind him.
The plight of the English full-back and his teammates were further deepened with Sokratis extending the lead of the Gunners to two after Manchester United failed to properly defend a corner kick. This time, David de Gea managed to parry away Alexander Lacazette flick on from a corner but the ball ending up in the path of the former Dortmund defender who simply smashed it into the net.
With the Red Devils showing very little signs of urgency, their fans took to social media to express their frustration.
Lindelof and Shaw not good enough defenders for a big six club and jury still out on Maguire. That's why United won't finish in the top four.
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) January 1, 2020
Maguire is bang average. I'm sorry but he's not the van Dijk we thought he would be.
— kenna (@kennagq) January 1, 2020
We need to call the police for Leicester . They absolutely robbed us
Maguire's nationality has, for some reason, meant he's immune to criticism when he's been beyond poor for a while now. He's the world's most expensive defender.
— Jordan Clarke (@FourFourJordan) January 1, 2020
Williams and Greenwood should be in this side too, and we have to cut our losses on Shaw.
Harry Maguire first half highlights #MUFC #BANTERCLUB pic.twitter.com/O8IO8pd2Sp
— Peter Williams (@p_williams_0151) January 1, 2020
No tactics/gameplan other than counter attack. We have no plan B if we canmot counter. Lingard who have no goals and assists last year still starts. Maguire is 80 million pounds but plays like a 20 million pound player. Our midfield is weak but we wont buy players, because no DNA
— SimplyPogba (@wintermeth) January 1, 2020
Harry Maguire has to be United's worst signing in 10 years. That Ole has already made him captain is a sign that his plan will only embed mediocrity into the walls of Manchester United. There's no way Maguire is better than Smalling. He's contributed nothing since joining.
— Babanla (@biolakazeem) January 1, 2020
Matic, Maguire, Shaw. That triangle has no pace. Arsenal have Pepe attacking down that area of the pitch. As a result, Matic has to drop very deep, with Rashford coming back to cover Shaw. When Utd launch a counter, the balance isn't right between the front three.
— Pope (@ChampagneP0pe) January 1, 2020
Both Matic and Lingard have been terrible. Their displays are leaving Fred as basically a 1 man midfield - If Pogba was playing over either of them, this game could be SO different. https://t.co/N3lMgoJWAI
— UtdArena. (@utdarena) January 1, 2020
