Man Utd Analysis: Jesse Lingard silences critics while Alexis Sanchez haunts Arsenal

Do you remember when Jesse Lingard was the # 1 public enemy?

When the idea of ​​a £ 120,000 a week contract at Manchester United was deemed irrefutable, "the game is gone?

What about the fact that he likes to film himself doing silly dances on social media or that his decision to create his own clothing line is worthy of indignation?

These dissenting voices have become very quiet lately – and will have been silenced after the role of the 26-year-old in United's third-round FA Cup victory in the fourth round at Arsenal.

Lingard never really reached Raheem Sterling's levels of criticism, but there were many who were happy to make the jump as he struggled to settle at Old Trafford.

To be fair, the criticism directed at him did not come exclusively from supporters of the opposition.

Many supporters of United had doubts about whether he had the clbad to wear the famous jersey.

Nobody doubt it now?

"Jesse is a great player," said Solskjaer. "He showed it for England and for us – he always scores with goals.

"Jesse is someone we never hesitate to put in a Man United team and he was brought to use this system, he knows what it means, he knows what the club is, he knows this story, he knows all the goals of the counterattack We scored against Arsenal, he knows everything about the club and we are going to take care of it. "

Lingard was one of Jose Mourinho's bright lights, but he's really blossomed since meeting with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Both players have worked together in United's youth ranks – and it should be noted that Lingard is one of the players that the Norwegian has put the key to his start to 100% as an acting manager.

The English international is part of Solskjaer's best advanced team, solving the long-standing problem area to the right of the attacks.

But he was also the player around whom Solskjaer based the tactical adjustments that allowed United to win the two most impressive victories.

Lingard's versatility and intelligence were vital when they were deployed as fake nine in the victories won against Tottenham and Arsenal this month.

Solskjaer used these games as an opportunity to demonstrate his own tactical awareness for what he thought was the most important tests of his reign until now. And without Lingard, who would have dropped in depth to flood the midfield or who would have arrived late in the surface, the system would have been nowhere as effective.

It's a role that Lingard will probably play when United takes on PSG in the Champions League and the tough title in Liverpool in the coming weeks.

For these games, Solskjaer should also reinstate Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in their first three places. But that was a measure of his ability to impose his system on United's players: even without this pair, his game plan for Arsenal was working perfectly.

Instead of Rashford, Romelu Lukaku was asked to take a wide right-wing attack position, in which the Belgian was prospering.

He was remarkable, showing another side of his game, rarely seen in a United jersey.

His inverted pbad disguised to play in Alexis Sanchez was as sublime as the fast feet and finish of the Chilean. It was Mesut Ozil-esque same.

Lukaku had not finished his job – providing another help to Lingard, a wonderful mix of rhythm, power and subtlety.

Moving away from the right side, he headed for the surface and Sanchez headed for the goal.

While Arsenal's defense was waiting for him to pull in the penalty box, he raised his head and chose Lingard, who pbaded coldly in front of Petr Cech.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goal shortly before half-time gave Arsenal hope, but United still seemed poised to strengthen his lead.

And it is after the Arsenal attack that commanders Paul Pogba, Rashford and Anthony Martial have moved forward.

Pogba's efforts from the edge of the area were blocked by Cech, but Martial was there to mark the rebound to confirm an eighth consecutive victory under Solskjaer.

Even the fiercest critics of Lingard might allow him to dance after that.

Sanchez returns to haunt Arsenal

It is too early to say that Solskjaer has exerted his magic on Sanchez – and the scandals of Arsenal fans will have played a role in this evening which was very encouraging for the Chilean.

But in an instant, he produced a touch of magic that United fans simply did not see him since moving to Old Trafford 12 months ago.

His goal of silencing the Emirates was sublime – and Sanchez of yesteryear.

First movement to find room in the box, then fast feet to go beyond Cech, before the decisive end of a tight angle.

Solskjaer would have been delighted with the change of course on the wing over which he would have been ordered to retreat far more than Lukaku on the other side.

It's still early – but it's as promising as she's been looking for Sanchez under a United shirt.

Solskjaer managed what Mourinho could not do

Solskjaer played with his defense – juggling with his attack. He left his midfielder alone.

The Norwegian did what José Mourinho could not do and found the perfect mix in the middle of the field.

In Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic, United combine steel, energy, speed and creativity.

Herrera and Matic's pace and abilities in balloon recovery give Pogba the chance to focus on hurting opponents at the top of the pitch.

One wonders why Mourinho did not try it more often.