Manchester United have two players to implement a style under Erik ten Hag

Arsene Wenger is five years into retirement from management yet he remains one of the most sagacious minds in the game. His dissection of Manchester United's shortcomings on Sunday makes for engrossing viewing.

"They were very poor to build the game up from the back," Wenger said on Bein Sports. "They gave the ball so many times to the goalkeeper when they had possibilities to play forward. It started there.

"And then you make the whole team uncertain and lack confidence because when you feel the fear is behind, they do not want the ball."

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Wenger admitted he "felt sorry for Man United because there's no hope there in the team". Not with the players Erik ten Hag is persisting with.

Sofyan Amrabat is already getting eaten up by the United beast. Marcus Rashford has regressed to the sorry season of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. So are Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes.

Antony, one of Ten Hag's favourites, was rightly benched for the derby and cut a narked image on the bench. When he emerged, he shamed the shirt with his petty truculence and was fortunate not to be red-carded.

Wenger is not entirely correct, for there is some hope in this United squad. Alejandro Garnacho is surely due a recall this week is an opportune occasion for him to be joined by his FA Youth Cup-winning teammate.

Kobbie Mainoo has not had a competitive kick since February 19 yet his ankle injury against Real Madrid in Houston three months ago was, in retrospect, a sliding doors moment in United's campaign. Unlike United's defenders, Mainoo does want the ball.

Ten Hag was readying Mainoo, 18, for a