Manchester United couldn’t find a winner against Arsenal on Sunday but striker Rasmus Hojlund could have secured all three points.
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon but Ruben Amorim will have seen more than enough to feel encouraged.
United opened the scoring through a Bruno Fernandes free kick before Declan Rice fired Arsenal level in the second half.
United could have won it though with two chances falling the way of Rasmus Hojlund.
The Dane came off the bench but showed his lack of confidence by hesitating on a golden chance to score, allowing Rice to rob him of possession.
Hojlund also had a shot blocked by Gabriel Magalhaes as the United striker’s concerning goal drought continues.
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Wayne Rooney on Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund has now gone 20 games without a goal across all competitions.
The Dane looks short of confidence in front of goal but isn’t exactly being helped by teammates in some situations.
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We saw Hojlund going mad at Diogo Dalot during Thursday’s clash with Real Sociedad having not been given the ball for a tap-in.
Christian Eriksen has defended Hojlund, believing that better times will be around the corner.
Wayne Rooney has now joined in with the former United superstar sharing that he still has faith in Hojlund.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2, Rooney suggested that Hojlund may need to simplify his game and focus on laying the ball off and just getting in the box.
Rooney accepts that the service for Hojlund has not been ideal of late but needs to just keep making the right runs.
Rooney added that he is a fan of Hojlund and is confident that the goals will start to fly in once he ends his drought.
“As a striker for Manchester United, when you’re not scoring goals, there’s a lot of pressure and a lot of people talking about you, can you do it for Manchester United? I think the best thing to do is simplify it and obviously making the runs into the penalty box is as easy as it comes, you have to make them runs,” said Rooney.
“Simplify your game, getting the ball, laying it off, getting in the box, getting the ball out wide, getting into the penalty box – putting yourself in the best position to score goals. If you do that, you will get the chances and you will score goals.
“To be a forward, nine times out of 10, you’re relying on your teammates to give you chances and put the ball in the box or slide balls in behind. Maybe he hasn’t been getting that service of late, but I’ve got faith in him, I think he’s a good player.
“He works hard, I think that’s really important as well, I think he just needs that goal – once he gets it, they’ll all start going in,” he added.
Rasmus Hojlund under pressure ahead of summer window
United paid £64million to sign Hojlund from Atalanta in 2023, with the deal potentially reaching £72million.
There were promising signs last season but Hojlund’s goals have really dried up this season.
Hojlund’s all-round game hasn’t developed either and he is under real pressure ahead of the summer window.
United need to sell players in order to rebuild Amorim’s squad and Hojlund may be one player who is placed on the chopping block if he doesn’t find form soon.
Exchanging Hojlund for Victor Osimhen seems tricky but United may well be tempted to try and flip Hojlund in order to sign another striker.
Goals can save Hojlund but United need to see his all-round performances as a centre forward improve too – or he will sadly go down as another misfire in the transfer market.