Luke Shaw given dose of reality from Man United fans | OneFootball

Manchester United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford in just two days to kick off the eagerly anticipated 2025/2026 Premier League season.

Centre back issues

The Red Devils lost two centre back options in the summer as Johnny Evans retired and Victor Lindelof left the club on a free.

Lisandro Martinez is making great progress on a return from long-term injury, having recently been photographed training on grass.

Nonetheless, the Argentine is still unlikely to kick a ball in anger for a few weeks and United need a left sided centre back.

Man United head coach Ruben Amorim has opted for a selection of different defence combinations during pre-season but will need to settle on a back three before the season opener.

Consequently, The Peoples Person conducted a poll asking readers to choose which centre back they would start on the left hand side versus Arsenal.

Faith in Ayden Heaven

Supporters have expressed their faith in 18-year-old defender Ayden Heaven as 37% of respondents chose him to start.

The youngster has impressed every time he has been on the pitch for United after joining last winter and actually made his Premier League debut against the Gunners in March.

A start versus Arsenal would add even more spice to the occasion as Heaven left the North London side for Manchester in January.

Leny Yoro

Despite Yoro frequently starting on the right of the defence, 35% of fans felt that it would be better to shift the young Frenchman to the left and put Harry Maguire in the centre with Matthijs de Ligt on the right.

This trio would certainly add more experience but could also lack pace with Maguire and De Ligt struggling in this aspect of the game.

Lack of trust in Luke Shaw

The Englishman has desperately struggled with injuries over the last two years but he has been a regular in Amorim’s pre-season preparations.

He started the Europa League final in May and has regularly played at centre back with Patrick Dorgu covering the left wing back role.

Nonetheless, only 26% of fans felt that the experienced Shaw should be given the responsibility of facing Arsenal on the opening day.

This is hardly a ringing endorsement for the club’s current longest-serving player.

Finally, only 2% believed that another player should be given the chance to start such as Tyler Fredricson or perhaps even Diogo Dalot being asked to deputise in the centre back role as he has done before on occasion.

Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images

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