Paul Merson would like to see Marcus Rashford used as a ‘super-sub’ when Manchester United take on Arsenal at Old Trafford this evening.
The 22-year-old came on to score a hat-trick against RB Leipzig during the week and Merson believes manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could use the same trick against the Gunners. The Sky Sports pundit feels the game will be more open in the second half and he will able to exploit a tired Arsenal defence:
“Rashford is a better player when the game opens up and there’s space to burst into. But United can’t open games up from the start because they’re not good enough defensively. You’ve got to have players who will tire out defenders so that when Rashford comes on those defenders will be on their knees.”
It is certainly a unique point of view but the opinion did not go down too well on Twitter with many fans suggesting that Merson wants Rashford to be benched against his former club Arsenal:
This man needs his head checked
— AM9 Szn (@colewords) October 30, 2020
Aren’t you an Arsenal fan… I can’t expect less
— Abdulsalam M. Aminu (@ameent2) October 30, 2020
For what reason?
— Manase Liuwa (@liuwa_manase) October 31, 2020
???
— Ben (@bjturrner) October 31, 2020
Ooh I wonder why! ??
— Christine Booth (@themadred) October 31, 2020
He was rested against leipzig and came in 65 mins why should he not be played against arsnal
— Ororo jnr (@playermayweda7) October 31, 2020
Is he dumb there was a reason we rested him most of the game vs Leipzig
— Hassan (@Hassan73298343) October 31, 2020
Of course he would! ?
— ʟɪsᴀ ʜᴜsᴛᴏɴ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ (@CumbrianPhoto) October 31, 2020
Were Anthony Martial available, benching Rashford may make slightly more sense but, with the Frenchman suspended, it is almost certain that the England international will be named in the eleven tonight. Considering the sort of form he is in as well, you would bank on him to score whether he starts the game or not.