Gary Neville says Manchester United are ‘not at the level’ of Arsenal yet moments after they beat Newcastle United 2-0 to win the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.
The Manchester United legend also dropped Manchester City’s name into the hat, with Pep Guardiola battling it out with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal for the Premier League title this season, but Erik ten Hag and co. will also feel they are in that race also.
What helps matters is winning the first trophy of the season and ten Hag’s men did that in a pretty efficient and, in the end, comfortable fashion against the Magpies.
On paper, those from Old Trafford can still win every trophy possible this season. The League Cup is in the bag, they are still in the FA Cup, they recently knocked Barcelona out of the Europa League and they are just lurking behind the top two in the Premier League.
Just like Arteta did when he took charge of Arsenal, ten Hag has also won a trophy in his first season.
Whilst the Gunners proceeded to go on a rocky road the season after, the patience and backing of Arteta since then has resulted in them being in their current position.
And Manchester United fans will be feeling they are heading down a similar road, if not quicker, as Neville made this claim moments after his former side lifted their first trophy since 2017, as he told Sky Sports Main Event (26/02/23).
“That squad will be dangerous with a medal around their neck, they will,” said Neville. “You would like to think that Erik ten Hag is going to improve them again in the next 12-18 months.
“There is still a lot to play for this season. They are still not at the level of Arsenal and Manchester City. That’s clear.
“But where they are, what they are doing, is something I never would have imagined six months ago.”
THAT FINAL HURDLE
The crunch moments of the season are here and it could still have a very happy ending, not just for Manchester United, but for Arsenal also.
In truth, if Man United can possibly add the Europa League to their League Cup, and Arsenal win the Premier League title, then both sets of fans will be very happy.
But the old days of Manchester United and Arsenal battling it out at the top of England’s top-flight might just return in the form of ten Hag and Arteta locking horns on the touchline because both are doing very good jobs.
source: hitc.com
