Manchester United left-back, Luke Shaw says that United’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium was a “reality check”.
United competed well in the game against the league leaders and the performance in the first half especially showed just how far the Reds have come in such a short space of time.
A tough one to take. Thanks to our travelling fans for your magnificent support today.#MUFC || #ARSMUN pic.twitter.com/F45HrTNkKb
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 22, 2023
Erik ten Hag’s side took the lead in the first half through Marcus Rashford before Eddie Nketiah got Arsenal level seven minutes later.
Bukayo Saka, who has now scored in three consecutive games against United, gave Arsenal the lead in the 53rd minute before Lisandro Martinez, who scored his first goal for the club, equalised for United to make it 2-2.
Eddie Nketiah struck his second goal of the game to make it 3-2 and secure the win for the North London outfit and speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Shaw acknowledged that Arsenal should be applauded for the way that they have performed this season.
”You have to give them credit for what they have done this season,” began Shaw, speaking to Sky Sports post-match.
”I know we are only halfway but I think they deserve to be at the top from the way they are playing and the way they play.
”Like I just said we are only halfway through the season and there is a long way to go, we have to fully focus now on our next game as we have a big semi-final coming up” [via Man Utd].
However, when Shaw talks about the defeat being “a reality check”, there is substance to his statement because there was talk within some quarters of the media that United were in a title race, which United were not in as the aim for this season was to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, which they are on course to doing so.
“It was tough to be involved in but these are games you want to play in and test yourselves. We are all gutted in the changing room to concede so late on and it is a reality check” [Stretty News].
United are the only English team who are left in all four competitions, and the Reds have a semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest to look forward to on Wednesday at 8pm UK time and following the game at the City Ground, United take on Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday evening at 8pm UK time.