Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher slam ‘scared’ Manchester United as their Premier League title claim empties again with a calm display in the goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates
Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher have had a taste of Manchester United’s performance in their poor 0-0 win over Arsenal, with the image of the Red Devils featuring Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ‘scary’ side.
United embarked on Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium in need of a kick-back performance after giving the Sheffield United boys a 2-1 loss at Old Trafford in midweek.
However, the Red Devils were unable to break the stoppage as Edinson Cavani exploded the two best chances of the game to leave North London by just one point, despite the inability of Mikel Arteta played several key players.
Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher have caught United ‘scary’ after their Arsenal draw
The Red Devils failed to put the pressure on City league leaders with a tough draw on Saturday
And Keane has lost his former club for not taking the opportunity to put the pressure back on Manchester City’s rivals in their search for the Premier League title.
‘I’m scratching my head with United, the worry I was seeing today was that they almost didn’t believe they could win the game,’ the Irishman told Sky Sports.
‘This is Manchester United. The game was there to take them, imagine playing for Manchester United and having no faith in going to win the game.
‘The performance wasn’t so intense, you can make excuses but there was a real lack of quality and conviction and a desire to get the result and Arsenal deserved the point.’
The stalemate leaves United with just one point from a possible six from the last two games
And Sky Sports have both tasted United as their title cost fell again in north London.
Former Liverpool defender Carragher agreed with Keane’s investigation, revealing that United appear to be content with their status as title opponents.
‘The biggest thing for me with United, usually going to Anfield or Arsenal and getting a point is not a bad result. I would be angrier as a United fan with him today than Wednesday. It’s almost like United can’t believe where they are.
‘This is an idea that they are building and next season they can go for it. Man City have no strikers, Liverpool have no backup. [For] Man United this is a great opportunity and it’s almost as if they’d be happy to be there.
‘The results aren’t bad, but Liverpool with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho at center-back, Arsenal without their top three players, I don’t see a fight from those players to go and get the win.
Keane was left baffled by United’s display and said his former side did not think he would win
Carragher said United may not have a better chance of pouncing their weaker competitors
‘The idea is that next year is United’s year, next year Liverpool and City may go back to getting 96, 97 points.’
Keane said United’s transformation from title hopes to real title opponents has led to ‘different pressure’ for the previous side, and that the Red Devils looked ‘scary’ with the action available.
‘There is a different pressure now. They used to get plaudits as they climbed the board but now that they are up at the top it is almost as if the players are scared of the challenge.
‘You could forgive them for the Sheffield United one. That can happen. But today I’m really scratching my head at this team.
United Ole boss Gunnar Solskjaer said he was pleased with his side’s performance
‘You have your name for football matches and the big prizes to be won. You watch them today, I think you have gotten into this big situation if you go for it, they did not do it today. ‘
Saturday’s result means United have picked up just one point from the six available in winning games against the Blades and Arsenal. However, Solskjaer appeared satisfied with his side show at the Emirates Stadium.
‘I felt we had more chances to win the game, for sure,’ the United boss said after the game. ‘Reasonable performance, good defense, two big chances in the second half from two good crosses, unfortunately we couldn’t put between the posts.
‘We come away with most of the possession, most likely, we had a spell in the second half where we were a bit tolerant but other than that I was happy with the performance. ‘
