Di Maria’s struggles continue
The big money signing hasn’t been at his best over the last few weeks and he underperformed again tonight. His pinpoint cross for Wayne Rooney’s goal aside, Di Maria was dispossed regularly by Nacho Monreal and didn’t link well with his team-mates.
And then of course there was his moment of complete headlessness late on when he pulled the shirt of referee Michael Oliver, which saw him sent off.
https://vine.co/v/OE2n9qLBKOJ
The Argentine started so promisingly at United but the last few months have seen the former Real Madrid man regress substantially.
Does LVG know his best team?
Marouane Fellaini is in and out of the team regularly, likewise Ander Herrera. Louis van Gaal has done a lot of tinkering with his side this season and making two substitutions at half time tonight made it look like he is no closer to knowing what his best 11 is.
Juan Mata and Radamel Falcao were unused replacements and with so much attacking talent at his disposal, the team’s forwards shouldn’t be struggling as much as they are.
As strong as an Ox
The game’s real moment of quality was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s magical bit of footwork in the build-up to Arsenal’s opener. Minutes earlier, the Ox scorched down the right wing, beating defenders for fun.
https://vine.co/v/OEQ9DwVIgOb
The midfielder can be a bit hit-and-miss – one cross in particular was very wasteful – but the youngster was one of Arsenal’s key performers tonight.
Welbeck celebrates
The act of celebrating against your former team is one that doesn’t sit well with many football fans but Welbeck earned his moment of joy tonight. After all, Louis van Gaal made it very clear that the striker wasn’t wanted at Old Trafford so the Arsenal man is more than entitled to revel in the moment where he knocked his old club out of the cup.
https://vine.co/v/OE2OtmIwJAF
He did well to round David de Gea too, although Antonio Valencia’s poor back-pass gets worse every time you see it….
What stood out for you at Old Trafford?
