Alan Shearer blasts Arsenal star for lacking ‘hunger’ in Man Utd defeat
Alan Shearer took aim at Leandro Trossard during Arsenal’s penalty-shootout defeat to ten-man Manchester United, accusing the forward of lacking ‘hunger’ after Matthijs de Ligt’s superb extra-time clearance.
This afternoon’s heavyweight FA Cup third-round tie exploded into life after a goalless first half, with Bruno Fernandes arrowing a sublime strike beyond David Raya to open the scoring for the defending champions in the 52nd minute.
But the momentum shifted as Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second bookable offence just past the hour-mark, before Gabriel Magalhaes equalised to set up a thrilling finish at the Emirates.
Altay Bayındır made himself an instant hero with a brilliant stop to deny Martin Odegaard from the penalty spot and Arsenal’s frustrations continued as several inviting opportunities came and went in extra time.
Perhaps the most notable of these chances arrived in the 11th minute of overtime as Raheem Sterling and Jorginho combined to find Kai Havertz, who pulled the back towards Trossard.
But an alert De Ligt denied Trossard with a magnificent intervention on the line and the Dutchman was seen celebrating the clearance wildly with United’s fans behind the goal, with United later prevailing on penalties.
‘De Ligt, coming in right at the last second. He just manages to clear it away, brilliant defending from him,’ ex-Newcastle and England striker Shearer said on BBC’s commentary of the game.
Watching back replays of the chance, Shearer hit out at Trossard for allowing De Ligt to race in behind and beat him to the ball.
‘It’s great defending from De Ligt. Having said that, if I’m in that position and I’m Trossard I’m taking the lot and I’m getting on the end of that,’ Shearer added.
‘There’s no way I’m letting the defender get on the end of that.’
‘He’s got to get on, he’s got to show more hunger to get on the end of it and show the hunger that De Ligt shows.
‘He’s got to have that and a bit more to put him and the ball in the back of the net.
‘You see the reaction from De Ligt, that’s how much it means to him and rightly so.’
Theo Walcott echoed Shearer’s comments, criticising Trossard for lacking the desire to get a toe on the ball.
‘This is the one where I feel Trossard just needs to show a bit more,’ the former Arsenal forward said in the BBC studio.
‘He’s in front of De Ligt but De Ligt, to his credit, has produced a superb defensive performance.’
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