Stan Collymore has described Manchester United versus Arsenal as a ‘clash of the lightweights’ and likened the pair to ‘jellyfish’.
Arsenal recorded their first win at Old Trafford for 14 years on Sunday, thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty in the second half.
Despite the close scoreline, it was a deserved Gunners victory.
But it was only enough to leave Arsenal ninth in the Premier League standings after a mixed start to the campaign for Mikel Arteta’s team.
What If The ‘Big 6’ Left The Premier League? PART 3 – Football Manager 2020 Experiment
United, meanwhile, remain 15th.
And Collymore does not envisage things getting too much better for either club.
- Gary Neville comments on Jesse Lingard's future as Arsenal pursue West Ham loanee
- 'Sign for Spurs': Jamie O'Hara wants £40m star Mourinho called 'amazing' at Tottenham
In his weekly column for The Daily Mirror (3 November, page 49) the former Liverpool and England striker wrote: “Sunday’s clash between Manchester United and Arsenal was a clash of the lightweights.
“Both will suck their fans into believing they can achieve something, but both have the spine and bottle of a jellyfish.”
Arsenal have won the FA Cup and Community Shield in Arteta’s short time as manager, whereas Manchester United are still without a trophy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But the Gunners, especially, remain a work in progress, with several young players and a new system introduced in recent months.
Arsenal and Manchester United fans – has Collymore jumped the gun here?
In other news, 'Lot to learn': Boss warns player about reported Derby or Sheffield Wednesday move