Man Utd could hand Mason Greenwood first Premier League start against Arsenal

Rising star | Greenwood has scored two in two for United
Manchester United via Getty Imag
James Robson @jamesrobsonES26 September 2019

Mason Greenwood is pressing for his first Premier League start of the season against Arsenal after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer demanded Manchester United end their woeful run in front of goal.

Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Rochdale was the 17th time in 20 games that United have failed to score more than once.

Solskjaer damningly claimed his misfiring team are better at penalty shoot-outs than 90-minutes matches after requiring spot kicks to see off their League One opponents in the EFL Cup.

And for the second time in as many weeks United needed Greenwood to spare their blushes – but even his goal wasn’t enough to secure victory after 16-year-old Luke Matheson stunned Old Trafford with an equaliser.

Solskjaer is already counting the cost of failing to replace the departed Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in the summer, with United’s return of eight league goals is the joint lowest of any of the top nine.

By comparison Manchester City have scored 24 and even newly-promoted Norwich have nine.

Photo: Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United via Getty Imag

“We go 1-0 up in many games and today it's again go 1-0 up and you think 'go on then,'” said Solskjaer after Wednesday’s scare. “It's the key now and it's a learning curve for these boys. We need to go for the second.

“At this club you don't just sit back and hope that's enough. If you settle for good enough that's not what we want.”

On a night when United registered 31 shots - 14 off target - and managed to score just once, their perfect record of five out of five penalties was a rare positive for Solskjaer.

“Everyone wanted to take penalties,” he said. “I'm very pleased with the confidence. You know we're better in penalty shoot-outs than in proper games.”

United’s wastefulness against Rochdale is a concern ahead of Arsenal on Monday, when they are unlikely to be gifted so many chances.

On average this season they have registered 4.3 shots on target in the Premier League, with four of their eight goals coming in the opening game against Chelsea and two from the penalty spot.

A bonus for Solskjaer is the expected return of Anthony Martial after a thigh injury.

Man United squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers

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The France international has scored two in three appearances since being given the role at the point of United’s attack.

Greenwood has also made a compelling case to be handed a start against Arsenal after his vital strikes against Astana and Rochdale.

Solskjaer insists he doesn’t want to place too much pressure on the 17-year-old’s shoulders – but with Marcus Rashford ruled out with a groin strain, United are desperately short of options.

“He's got two great feet and scored the penalty with his right,” said Solskjaer. “It must be a nightmare for defenders with him one on one in the box. He can go both ways, which for me is fantastic.

“You can just see that he's got quality. He will get his share of games. He's young and we have to allow him to grow.”

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