Krishnan Sreekumar
Eduardo urges Arsenal to snub a transfer move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford
Speaking to Ladbrokes (h/t Express), former Arsenal star Eduardo urged his old club to snub a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford because of ex-Gunners ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang‘s influence in north London.
Rashford is said to be considering his future at his boyhood club in the summer in a season where he has found himself relegated to the bench after falling down the pecking order in attack in Manchester, having to play deputy to Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani.
Eduardo, who played for Arsenal between 2007 and 2010, used Aubameyang as an example to prove that his former side need to find a player with the right levels of motivation by saying that the Gabon international was a top footballer, but always caused trouble inside the dressing room and with the fans.
“It’s all about finding a player with the right levels of motivation. Take Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as an example; he’s a top player, but there was always trouble with him. There would always be question marks around his future, throughout the season. That causes trouble in the dressing room, and then among fans, and so you have to avoid someone with that kind of mentality.”
The former Croatian striker wants the Gunners to avoid signing players with that kind of mentality, as it would only hurt their chances of progressing. After losing Aubameyang in January to Barcelona, the north London club are currently operating with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as the only strikers in their squad.
“Do the job Arsenal would need him to do”
Over at Old Trafford, Rashford is going through his own struggles when on the pitch, looking low on confidence and unable to contribute meaningfully to the side’s goals. Red Devil fans will agree that this is probably the worst patch of form they have seen the star go through.
Eduardo echoed the sentiments of these Man United fans, saying that the player is not the right kind of footballer to come in and fill the number nine for Arsenal, saying that the 24-year-old hardly played as a striker for his current club and was doubtful if Rashford has the right capacity to do the job for the Gunners.
“Marcus Rashford is one of the names who has been linked with Arsenal this summer. But is he the right player to come in and fill that role as a number nine? No. He doesn’t play as a striker for Manchester United, so why would Arsenal bring him in if they need a striker? I don’t know if he has the right capacity to come in and do the job Arsenal would need him to do.”
The Englishman came through the ranks at Carrington’s famed academy, and broke into the first team in spectacular fashion, scoring a brace on his senior debut in the Europa League and then following it up with another double on his Premier League debut.
He has also gone to become an England international, representing his country in the 2018 World Cup and 2020 Euros. However, his recent form has seen him be dropped from the Three Lions squad, while warming the bench for his boyhood club.
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Although he burst onto the scene as a striker for the Red Devils, he made a move to the wing as he developed further. That being said, he is still capable of leading the line for the team as that was once his natural position.
Eduardo is correct in pointing out that the club does not utilise Rashford as a striker anymore, but that does not mean that you can dismiss his ability to play up front and through the middle. Despite his links to Arsenal, Man United are not likely to sell their academy product to a direct rival, so the former striker’s concerns can be appeased for the moment.
