Arsenal icon Ian Wright has criticised Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes for “lashing out” at left-back Nuno Tavares, claiming he was lucky not to get sent off. The Gunners went on to win the game 3-1 over the Red Devils on Saturday.
Goals from Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike to give the home side all three points in the game. It moved them up to fourth after a good week for Mikel Arteta, with a victory over Chelsea and North London rivals Tottenham dropping points in the top-four race.
Discussing his side after the win, the Spaniard said: “what I see is a team that is so willing, that gives the energy. The cohesion that they have in that stadium is phenomenal, and it gives them a chance, and it makes me believe we can do it [finish top four].”
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Two key moments in the game came in either penalty box, though. Saka was brought down in the area, and after an extensive VAR check, a spot-kick was given, and the winger converted the chance.
In the second half, Tavares rose to head away a cross into the box but managed to strike the ball with his arm instead, giving the away side a penalty of their own. With a chance to level the game at 2-2, Fernandes did his usual stuttered run and struck the post.
It was a decisive moment in the game, as United could have drawn level when they had momentum. Instead, the Gunners went down the other end to consolidate their lead.
Following that incident, Fernandes swiped at Tavares in a challenge later in the game, venting his frustration. It was something he had done in a prior game against Liverpool and full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
This was something that annoyed Ian Wright, who claimed he was lucky to not receive a red card. Speaking on the Ringer FC podcast, he said: “Seeing Bruno Fernandes just lashing out at people, lashing out at Trent really wildly, and then the challenge on Nuno, you look at it and you think to yourself, ‘That’s not what Manchester United need from you, my friend’.
“Manchester United needs a lot more than you going around trying to top people. He was lucky not to get sent off. But this is what it’s come to.”
For Arsenal, they will be happy that the full-back wasn’t seriously injured heading into the West Ham clash on Sunday. The Gunners could move that one step closer to securing Champions League football next season.
