Erik ten Hag did not make an attacking change as Man United held on at 2-2 against Arsenal, eventually conceding in the 90th minute.
Garnacho came on at the end
Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United still have “limited” attacking options after their first Premier League defeat since November at Arsenal.
Ten Hag decided against an attacking change with United clinging onto a 2-2 draw at Arsenal, whose pressure eventually told as Eddie Nketiah claimed a 90th minute winner.
Alejandro Garnacho has been regularly introduced from the bench by Ten Hag but he was reluctant to adjust United’s line-up after Fred replaced Antony in the 71st minute and only brought him on after Arsenal had scored the winner.
United signed Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley earlier this month but striker Anthony Martial has missed the last two games with a muscular injury.
“It was the best set-up to win this game,” Ten Hag stressed. “And of course we had some considerations to bring players in, especially Garnacho can have an impact.
“But we need a good press, we conceded two already from a corner, short corners but a lot of crosses there. And so I think Wout did a really good job there in the pressing, and in the heading on set plays.
“So Rashy – you don’t want to take him off – with Bruno already we make a tactical (change) and I think almost it came out, a really good position from him and pass to Rashford in the back of the defending line and the moment between the defending line and the keeper, so we had our moments there and we also missed some players.
“Also on the bench, you are limited offensively, we know that.”
United lost for the first time in the Premier League since November 6 without Casemiro, who had started in their previous 12 league fixtures.
Ten Hag refused to cite the Brazilian’s absence in his analysis. “There were also others players not available and we can talk about them.
“He is obviously a very good player for us, an important player. But I don’t want to talk about players who are not available.
“Today we formed a good team, we were a good team on the pitch, we were leading and then starting to make such mistakes, it is about that. We could have won this game.”
source: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/
