Sky pundit thinks Arsenal defenders would actually want Solskjaer player to start

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Paul Merson has suggested in The Daily Star that Arsenal defenders would prefer Marcus Rashford to start for Manchester United to coming on as a substitute.

The former Arsenal star, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, has raved about Rashford, and believes that he would make a better impact as a substitute at Old Trafford this weekend.

However, Merson has acknowledged that it will not be easy for United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to leave the England international forward out of the starting lineup due to his heroics in midweek.

The 22-year-old forward scored a hat-trick for the Red Devils in their 5-0 win against RB Leipzig at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Merson wrote in The Daily Star: “Arsenal is going to be a tight game. If it’s 0-0 after 60 minutes and Rashford comes on just when defenders are getting tired, he could have a field day.

“Don’t get me wrong. Marcus Rashford is too good to spend his whole career as a supersub. He’s an England international. But I think he needs a rest and playing a few games off the bench might actually do him some good in the long run.”

The Sky Sports pundit added: “If I’m a defender I’d much rather have Rashford starting the game and fading than coming on with fresh legs at the end when I’m knackered.

“There are some players who take 15 minutes to get into a game when they come on. Not Rashford. He comes on and he’s into it straight away.”

Does Paul Merson have a point?

Rashford is a brilliant forward who can make an impact on a game of football whether he starts or comes on as a substitute.

Having the youngster on the substitutes’ bench would give Solskjaer a sense of security in case United are trailing in the second half, but Rashford starting would mean that the Arsenal defenders would have to be on their toes right from the first minute.

Arsenal play a high-pressing game and the Gunners do leave space behind, which would be perfect for Rashford to exploit.

The Englishman starting the match would push the Gunners on the backfoot.

According to WhoScored, Rashford has scored two goals and provided two assists in the Premier League so far this season, and scored 17 goals and gave seven assists in the league in 2019-20.