Paul Scholes has claimed that Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli looked ‘dangerous’ during Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday at Old Trafford, as he told Premier League Productions (04/09/22 at 6:30 pm).
The Manchester United legend slammed Mikel Arteta’s ‘shocking’ substitutions that he felt weren’t needed during the second half of Arsenal’s first defeat of the new Premier League season.
After 70 minutes, Arteta decided to take off Oleksandr Zinchenko, Sambi Lokonga and Martin Odegaard, with Eddie Nketiah, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe replacing the trio.
Not long after, Arsenal conceded for a third time and Marcus Rashford was rolling back his the years and scoring a brace against the Gunners once again.
Arsenal created enough chances to score more than just the Bukayo Saka goal, but of course, they would also look towards the now controversial disallowed Gabriel Martinelli goal in the first.
Nonetheless, this is what ex-Premier League midfielder Scholes had to say about yesterday’s game, including Arteta’s second-half calls.
“I don’t think they (Man United) were brilliant,” said Scholes. “Devastating on the counter-attack in the second half. I think Arsenal controlled the game, for most parts.
“I was surprised with the substitutes Arsenal made in the second half. I thought they were in complete control of the game and making chances.
“But as soon as he made the subs, they seem to lose that a little. Then Eriksen was getting on the ball and Fernandes’ great pass for Marcus.
“The subs were shocking. It ruined the game for him. I thought they were going great. They didn’t need to change. Jesus looked dangerous. Martinelli looked dangerous. I thought Saka looked dangerous. Then the subs seemed to stop all the momentum of the game.”
VAR SHOCKERS
The Premier League weekend has seen shocker after shocker produced by the on-field referees or VAR.
From West Ham United and Maxwell Cornet being denied a pretty obvious equalising goal in stoppage-time at Stamford Bridge.
To Arsenal being left annoyed at Martinelli’s goal not standing because Martin Odegaard was penalised for a foul on Christian Eriksen.
All in all, the officiating is seemingly getting worse and worse by the game, but nothing will be done about it because that’s usually the response.
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