Andrea Berta - Arsenal
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Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott has hailed Bryan Mbeumo as an “incredible” addition to Manchester United’s attack while admitting that Arsenal should have snapped up the forward “many years ago.”
United made strengthening their frontline a key priority following a dismal end to last season under Ruben Amorim, which saw them record the club’s lowest-ever Premier League points total.
The Red Devils moved swiftly to activate Matheus Cunha’s £62.5 million release clause at Wolves before turning their attention to Mbeumo, who was coming off a brilliant campaign at Brentford with 20 goals and seven assists in the league.Despite stiff competition from Tottenham, United completed a £71 million deal for the Cameroon international.
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It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for Amorim’s new-look side, who managed just two wins in their opening six games across all competitions. However, signs of improvement have since emerged, with United now enjoying a three-match winning run, their best spell under the Portuguese manager so far.
Bryan Mbeumo (Image credit: Getty Images)
Speaking onIt’s Called Soccer after United’s 3-1 victory over Brighton, where Mbeumo netted twice in the second half, Walcott praised Amorim’s evolving system and how the team is adapting to it.
“The team are understanding the way to play in his system now,” Walcott said. “When you have three at the back, you always have to have one of the centre-backs coming out into the midfield to be a third midfielder.
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“Luke Shaw is that man doing that because he’s the one out of all the players that you trust to be able to cover as well. They need that if Bruno [Fernandes] and Cunha are going to work in the same team because I wasn’t so sure if they could really operate in the same team. It felt like two players that want to be in the same positions.
“However, once you get players who can step out, be confident and have that trust behind them, that’s no problem and this system works.”
Walcott then singled out Mbeumo for his impact and work ethic, insisting the forward would have been an ideal addition for Arsenal long before his move to Old Trafford.
“I think Mbeumo has been incredible and he’s a player Arsenal should have bought many years ago,” he added.
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