Michael Owen tells Carrick he has an easy Matheus Cunha decision to make after Arsenal win | OneFootball

Former Manchester United forward Michael Owen has insisted that caretaker boss Michael Carrick has an easy decision to make regarding Matheus Cunha, following the player’s heroics against Arsenal.

Another impressive Cunha cameo

Cunha came on from the bench and was impactful yet again as United beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates.

Arsenal’s 29th-minute lead was cancelled out by a Bryan Mbeumo goal, before Patrick Dorgu combined brilliantly with Bruno Fernandes and powered a powerful finish into the net.

Mikel Merino made it 2-2 and appeared to have rescued a point for Arsenal, but Cunha had other ideas.

Cunha caused Arsenal all sorts of problems when he came on, the highlight of which was his moment of magic late on to clinch the win for United. He curled a sublime effort home, well past the reach of a stretching David Raya.

Before the game, Carrick had hailed Cunha’s response to being named on the bench against Manchester City. Cunha was thrust into the action in the derby and assisted Dorgu’s goal.

In his post-match press conference after the win over Arsenal, Carrick lauded the Brazilian yet again, revealing that he was disappointed not to start but used that as fuel to help the team.

Reacting to United’s big victory, Owen stressed that Cunha should be guaranteed to start in the upcoming meeting with Fulham.

Owen’s remarks

Owen said [as quoted by the Metro], “Everything has got to be perfect but it does sharpen your focus. Three shots on target, three goals. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”

“You don’t get many chances when you’re going to places like the Emirates. Arsenal didn’t defend horrifically at all. There were two unbelievable goals, obviously they will think they could have avoided the first goal, but it’s just amazing isn’t it? Sometimes you just don’t know [with a new manager]. It’s just that confidence or new belief that something will happen.”

Owen continued, “We quantify it but having confidence as a player, having that belief again, it turns you into Superman. It’s quite incredible, you can’t say how or why it comes, but as soon as you start feeling it again and we’ve just seen it: Manchester United have just put in two unbelievable performances.”

“I actually thought they played better against Manchester City last week but they were so clinical today. Three half chances and all three of them went in the back of the net against a serious, serious side.”

“I still think Arsenal will go on and win the league but that’s a real statement from Manchester United.”

Watching back a replay of Cunha’s goal, Owen explained, “As soon as he picked the ball up, first touch, I said ‘goal’… he’s just got amazing power, accuracy, he knows how to set himself. He’s calm in that situation and he uses a man to bend the ball around.

“This is one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League in this type of area and I just thought, ‘This is a huge chance’, and bang, back of the net before you could blink.”

“I think this lad is a serious player. Yes, he’s a bit of a maverick, he can probably frustrate at times, but I think he’s got pace, a lovely touch, he can score goals I was surprised that he didn’t start but saying that, after the performance against Manchester City, I can understand why Michael Carrick didn’t change things.”

“But he will start next game, no question about it, because it looks like Dorgu might have had a hamstring injury.”

Owen admitted to being surprised by Carrick’s decision to bring on Benjamin Sesko, branding it a “risky move.”

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social