England v United States - Women's International Friendly
Arsenal legend and ex-England striker Ian Wright (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal have little reason to envy Manchester United given the club’s current Premier League struggles but Ian Wright admits he ‘wishes’ one Old Trafford player was playing for his beloved Gunners.
United suffered their 17th league defeat of the season on Sunday to stay just 16th in the English top-flight with two games remaining.
There is a real danger the Red Devils will not even reach 40 points – traditionally the number teams would look to hit to guarantee their Premier League survival.
Ruben Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot-seat in November, has described his team as perhaps the ‘worst’ in the club’s long and successful history.
After Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham, ex-Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim even raised doubt over his future as Manchester United manager.
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While going another season without a trophy, Arsenal are in a much healthier position than United, looking well-placed for a third successive second-place finish in the Premier League.
The Gunners also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League – a competition Man United failed to qualify for and will do so again unless they win the Europa League.
Manchester United FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United are just 16th in the Premier League (Picture: Getty)
Despite the differing fortunes at United and Arsenal, Wright admits he would ‘love’ an Old Trafford star at the Emirates Stadium.
‘I wish we had Bruno Fernandes,’ the Arsenal level and former England striker said on The Overlap. ‘I wish we had Bruno. I would love to have him at Arsenal.’
Wright’s admiration for Fernandes and ‘wish’ for him to be at Arsenal points to his former club’s lack of creativity this season.
Much has been made of Arsenal’s lack of firepower up top but questions have also been asked of the lack of creativity in the team and Martin Odegaard’s dip in form.
Manchester United FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League
Old Trafford captain Bruno Fernandes (Picture: Getty)
Fernandes has continued to impress despite Manchester United’s largely dismal form, scoring 98 goals in 287 appearances for the club.
The Portugal international has emerged as a target for the Saudi Pro League ahead of the summer transfer window but Paul Scholes says it is imperative that he stays put.
Writing in a column for TNT Sports, the Manchester United legend said: ‘Bruno Fernandes has to stay because he’s the best player.
‘He’s involved in nearly everything that Manchester United do well. Sometimes there’s not a lot you can do when there’s such a big demand from the Saudi league, who would pay ridiculous money.
Liverpool FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have struggled for creativity (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s quite clear that they need to keep him and build a team around him. It’s just whether they get the option to do that with having money to buy new players and adding space in the squad to bring new players in.
Sitting just two places above the relegation zone could soon be forgotten as Manchester United prepare for the Europa League final, to be played on May 21.
Beating Premier League rivals Tottenham in the final in Bilbao will not only see United lift a major trophy but also secure the club’s return to the Champions League.
In a characteristically honest interview following Manchester United’s defeat to West Ham, Amorim said: ‘We are losing the feeling that we are a massive club and it’s the end of the world to lose a game at home.
Amorim raised doubt over his Man Utd future
‘If we are not scared of losing a game as Manchester United and don’t have that fear anymore, it is the most dangerous thing a big club can have.’
Asked about his own future at the club, he added: ‘Everybody here has to think seriously about a lot of things.
‘Everybody is thinking about the [Europa League] final. The final is not the issue. We have bigger things to think about.
‘I’m talking about myself and the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to change that. It’s a decisive moment in the history of the club.
Arsenal come back to draw with Liverpool
‘We need to be really strong in the summer and to be brave because we will not have a next season like this.
‘If we start like this, if the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different people.’
While United lost again, Arsenal came from two goals down to secure an admirable draw with Premier League champions Liverpool.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said: ‘What we did in the first half is nowhere near the level so to do it after that [fight back] is not acceptable.
‘We reacted, great but it is unacceptable. A lot of parts were not good enough, especially the defending standards and the errors after we gave the ball away, which is totally prohibited against this team.
‘We were very far off it. I was really upset. Yeah, we had a reaction but I hate reaction, I like action.
‘If we want to be there winning trophies, there is going to be a moment where you win it or you don’t. If you don’t, you have to play another one when you have been working for nine months. That is here, today.
‘If you cannot win it, you have to be the best of the rest. I was really, really upset.’
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