Harry Magurie was a defensive leader for United at Arsenal(Image: )
It can take some doing to look like the best centre-back on the pitch at the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal enjoying a partnership that many judges consider to be the best in Europe. But on Sunday Gabriel and William Saliba were upstaged by one of the visitors.
It wasn't Lisandro Martinez, as good and as combative as the spiky Argentine was. It was Harry Maguire, the 32-year-old veteran who barely put a foot wrong on a day when the Manchester United defence was given a proper examination.
Arsenal tried everything to prise open some space around United's midfield and defence, but found Maguire was always there, ready to clear it, block it or intercept it. It was a proper defensive performance.
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It has been some two weeks for Maguire, who had played just 11 minutes of football in two-and-a-half months since injuring his thigh at Tottenham in early November before starting against Manchester City. He has since completed 90 minutes against City and Arsenal and looked like he had never been away.
Maguire was excellent in both games, and although Matthijs de Ligt is edging closer to a return from his own two-month lay-off, it is hard to see how the Dutchman can take Maguire's place. United's best centre-back pairing at the moment looks to be the Englishman and the Argentine.
The question that leaves United is what to do over Maguire's contract. He turns 33 next week and, as things stand, has just 15 games of his United career left. The option was taken in his contract last year and unless new terms are agreed, he will leave this summer.
United have already confirmed Casemiro will go at the end of the season, saving at least £300,000-a-week on a 32-year-old, and there will be a temptation to follow suit with Maguire. It will clear the decks of two highly-paid, ageing players and create room in the wage bill for significant investment in the summer.
But there is a reason to consider Maguire's case separately. A young squad are already losing experience with Casemiro's departure and there are doubts over the future of Bruno Fernandes as well. That would be too much know-how to walk out the door in one summer.
Maguire still has plenty to offer. He is in United's best XI as things stand and has experience he can pass on to young centre-backs Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro, who might benefit from another year of learning and developing away from the spotlight of having to play every week.
Maguire's leadership has also grown since he was captain. He has arguably become a more comfortable leader without the pressure of the armband and is a big figure around the group.
He is doing his bit to earn a new contract. There was a view that he needed to prove his fitness after more than two months out with a muscle injury, but against City and Arsenal, he has done just that. He has missed 22 games since the start of last season but a couple of those have been after picking up minor impact injuries.
Handing a new contract to a 33-year-old is always a difficult call. United's ideal scenario would probably be a one-year extension, but the player would want the security of a longer deal.
That is something for director of football Jason Wilcox to consider as he weighs up how far to push negotiations over a new contract, but Maguire is providing a body of evidence at the moment that suggests he is well worth another year or two.
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