Unraveling Champions League Dramas: Man Utd's Andre Onana Posing a Headache for Erik ten Hag, Arsenal's Urgent Need for Fit Wingers

Onana is a problem for Ten Hag

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Andre Onana has cost Manchester United in two Champions League games

Erik ten Hag's argument about injuries cannot mask the fact that Manchester United's left-back situation is a weakness. However, excuses are becoming less acceptable at Old Trafford, especially when the manager's goalkeeper is adding to the uncertainty. In the recent Champions League loss against Galatasaray, the defense did little to support the manager. Diogo Dalot could have provided stronger defense for the first goal, Victor Lindelof was caught out of position for the second, and Raphael Varane was nowhere to be found for the third. Sofyan Amrabat also faced significant challenges in the second half.

However, doubts surrounding Dalot and Lindelof have been lingering for some time, and Amrabat is currently being deployed on the left, a position unfamiliar to him. Onana, on the other hand, was expected to be the goalkeeper who would spearhead a new era at Manchester United, someone who could bring composure to the team when in possession.

Unfortunately, he has already been involved in several precarious situations. During the match against Galatasaray, he could have made a stronger effort to prevent Wilfried Zaha's goal, and in the second half, he made a feeble attempt to catch a cross. These incidents appeared to have an impact on his confidence.

Soon after, the poor pass from the back resulted in Casemiro being sent off, completely changing the direction of the match. If David De Gea had made a similar mistake, it would have been used as evidence of his inability to handle the ball with his feet.

Onana, on the other hand, has shown he can do it and Ten Hag emphasized this during the press conference after the game. However, the United manager is currently facing a difficult situation and he needs his key players to step up. Unfortunately, his goalkeeper failed to do so, resulting in significant consequences. Adam Bate

Hojlund a shining light for struggling Man Utd

This talented 20-year-old stood out on yet another disappointing evening for Erik ten Hag's team. United has been lacking a player of Hojlund's caliber in the number 9 position. His strength, power, determination, outstanding ability to hold up play, and clinical finishing were on full display at Old Trafford.

Hojlund, who was acquired from Atalanta for a staggering £72m during the summer transfer window, showcased his exceptional skills by positioning himself perfectly to header Marcus Rashford's cross into the net early on in the game. After the halftime break, he took matters into his own hands and embarked on a blistering run from inside his own half before elegantly slotting the ball home to restore Manchester United's lead. He even came close to securing a hat-trick, but unfortunately, his composed strike was rightly ruled out for offside.

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Rasmus Hojlund scored twice for Manchester United against Galatasaray at Old Trafford

Hojlund showcased remarkable maturity for his age during the game against Galatasaray. If his team had defended well, the focus would have solely been on his exceptional performance. While United's present situation may be uncertain, Hojlund's future looks promising.

Arsenal need Saka and Martinelli back

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Bukayo Saka waits for treatment before coming off in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Lens

The reason why Arsenal relies on the England winger is evident from their loss against Lens. Once Saka was substituted, the team's performance declined significantly.

Saka holds the record for the most one-on-one encounters in the current Premier League season. He consistently challenges opposing full-backs and averages 14 such duels per game.

But on Tuesday night, Fabio Vieira, his replacement, only tried to bypass his opponent once.

The situation is similar on the opposite side: Gabriel Martinelli possesses comparable statistics to Saka. Leandro Trossard adequately fills in for the Brazilian, but the arrival of Manchester City on Sunday calls for more than just adequacy.

Mikel Arteta is well aware of this as well. "The absence of the two wingers significantly diminishes the threat we possess," he commented following the loss to Lens. "Moreover, it sets them apart from the other valuable attributes our team possesses."

It feels that Arsenal's hopes of beating Man City on Sunday could be determined by the team news…Sam Blitz

Individual errors costing Arsenal

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Declan Rice's response to Arsenal conceding in Lens game at Stade Bollaert-Delelis highlighted the challenging nature of away matches in the Champions League.

Playing their first Champions League home game in over two decades, the French side faced a hostile and lively atmosphere. However, Arsenal managed to weather the early storm from Lens before Gabriel Jesus scored, giving them the lead. The Gunners dominated the game and effectively silenced the home fans. The momentum shifted when David Raya made a careless pass, allowing Lens to equalize through a superb finish by Adrien Thomasson.

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Arteta expressed his desire to eliminate costly mistakes and create more opportunities for the team to win. He acknowledged that mistakes are inevitable in football and emphasized the need to adapt to them. Unfortunately, these mistakes proved to be costly for Arsenal, as Lens made a remarkable comeback and handed Arteta's side their first defeat of the season. Similarly, an individual error by Jorginho resulted in Son's equalizer in the north London derby, leading to Spurs rescuing a point at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are aware that they have not been able to replicate the smooth gameplay of the previous season in the current campaign. In order to avoid any setbacks, they understand the importance of not making any mistakes. They are well aware that when the league leaders, Man City, visit on Sunday, they will have to deliver an almost flawless performance.