Paul Merson names Man Utd ‘scapegoat’ who will be ‘gutted’ after Arsenal decision

Paul Merson has insisted that Manchester United captain Harry Maguire will have wanted to start his side’s Premier League clash with Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime.

The centre-back was a notable absence from Ralf Rangnick’s line-up at the Emirates, and has had to endure a difficult week both on and off the pitch.

Maguire was one of several United players who failed to perform in Tuesday night’s 4-0 defeat to title-chasing Liverpool, and the 29-year-old made headlines again later in the week when it was revealed that he and his family had been targeted by a bomb threat at their home.

Speaking prior to Saturday’s match, Rangnick seemingly suggested that the toll the latter incident had taken on his captain was the key factor behind his omission.

The German told MUTV: “I had to make a decision between the three of them [starting duo Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane, and Maguire]. Two could only play.

“Harry has had a tough week. I decided to give him a rest and play with Rapha Varane and Victor Lindelof.”

But Merson took a different view of the matter, and argued that Rangnick’s call was likely motivated by footballing reasons.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, he said: “Sometimes you want to get out on the pitch and play football. You want to get out there. That’s your solitude, as soon as you cross that white line, you concentrate as a professional footballer.

“I found that myself, and I think Harry Maguire would rather play football. We’ve seen it with Cristiano Ronaldo [after the tragic death of his newborn son earlier this week]. Ronaldo would rather play football.

“It’s a release for that hour and a half, and I think he’ll be gutted, Maguire. He’ll want to play. He’s been made a bit of a scapegoat, if I’m being honest. You could have dropped every single player from the other night against Liverpool. For me, he’ll be disappointed.”

The former Arsenal midfielder added: “I think it’s for footballing reasons he’s been left out today - 100%.

“If it’s not footballing reasons, why take him? Let him stay at home with his family and his partner. Why take him and sit him on the bench?”