Alan Shearer was left bemused by Manchester United players at the Emirates Stadium yesterday afternoon. In the first game since Erik ten Hag was appointed, the Old Trafford giants were soundly beaten by top-four rivals Arsenal even though Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th goal in the Premier League.
It capped a topsy-turvy few days for United as season-defining defeats to Liverpool and the Gunners came either side of them going public with their decision appoint Ten Hag as permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian was sacked way back in November as United promptly turn their attentions to next term.
Motivation for United in north London could not have been clearer. Needing a win to keep fading top-four dreams alive, they also headed into their lunchtime showdown on the back of a heavy and humiliating defeat at Anfield — not to mention the players had a golden chance to impress incoming manager Ten Hag.
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Shearer told Match of the Day : "I couldn't agree more [on United being flat in the first half]. A new manager, being battered when they went to Liverpool, changes in personnel. They also left Harry Maguire out and I'm thinking there is going to be a bit of a response, certainly in the first 20 or 30 minutes.
"And there wasn't at all. Within three minutes you have got three big mistakes [for the goal].
"You have got a mistake from [Raphael] Varane and [Diogo] Dalot, you have also got a mistake from [Alex] Telles as he lets [Nuno] Tavares go. The ball comes in and they are already 1-0 down."
