Michael Owen tells Michael Carrick to start 'dangerous' Man Utd star after Arsenal win

Manchester United’s win was a ‘statement’ to the rest of the Premier League, says Michael Owen (Picture: Getty)

Michael Owen says he was ‘surprised’ Matheus Cunha didn’t start at Arsenal and is expecting the forward to come into Michael Carrick’s XI for Manchester United’s next match against Fulham .

Cunha had to settle for a place amongst the substitutes at the Emirates but came on and made himself a hero with a stunning late winner in United’s 3-2 victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal .

It was Arsenal’s first defeat on home soil all season and means the Gunners’ lead at the top now stands at just four points after wins for both Manchester City and Aston Villa earlier in the weekend.

The manner of United’s win made it all the more impressive, with Carrick’s men forced to come from behind after Lisandro Martinez had directed the ball into his own net on the half-hour mark.

Bryan Mbeumo capitalised on a rare wayward pass from Martin Zubimendi to equalise at the end of the first half before Patrick Dorgu put the visitors in front with a thunderous 50th-minute effort.

And just when Mikel Merino appeared to have rescued a point for Arsenal, the Red Devils dug deep and responded again through super sub Cunha to cap off a dream outing in the capital.

‘Everything has got to be perfect but it does sharpen your focus. Three shots on target, three goals. I don’t think it’s a coincidence,’ ex-Manchester United and England striker Owen said of the performance, which saw Carrick’s men move up to fourth.

Cunha extended Carrick’s perfect start with a stunning late winner (Picture: Getty)

The victory followed a shock win over City in Carrick’s first match in charge (Picture: Getty)

‘You don’t get many chances when you’re going to places like the Emirates .

‘ Arsenal didn’t defend horrifically at all. There were two unbelievable goals, obviously they will think they could have avoided the first goal, but it’s just amazing isn’t it?

‘Sometimes you just don’t know [with a new manager]. It’s just that confidence or new belief that something will happen.

@metrosportuk Are Man United BACK?! 💥 Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-2 in the Premier League after two unbelievable goals from Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha, and a rare poor performance from the Gunners at the Emirates. #manchesterunited #arsenal #matchreaction #dorgu #carrick ♬ original sound - Metro Sport

Gabriel Jesus was found wanting for the most part at the Emirates (Picture: Getty)

Martin Zubimendi gifted United their equaliser (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal opened the scoring thanks to Martinez's own goal (Picture: Getty)

Mbeumo has shone since returning from AFCON (Picture: Getty)

Dorgu send the away end into raptures with a thunderous effort in the 50th minute (Picture: Getty)

‘We quantify it but having confidence as a player, having that belief again, it turns you into Superman . It’s quite incredible, you can’t say how or why it comes, but as soon as you start feeling it again and we’ve just seen it: Manchester United have just put in two unbelievable performances.

‘I actually thought they played better against Manchester City last week but they were so clinical today. Three half chances and all three of them went in the back of the net against a serious, serious side.

‘I still think Arsenal will go on and win the league but that’s a real statement from Manchester United.’

Cunha is one of the most ‘dangerous’ attacking players in England, says Owen (Picture: Getty)

Watching back replays of Cunha’s decisive strike, Owen highlighted the composure with which the Brazilian set himself before finding the bottom corner of David Raya’s goal.

‘As soon as he picked the ball up, first touch, I said “goal”… he’s just got amazing power, accuracy, he knows how to set himself,’ he explained.

‘He’s calm in that situation and he uses a man to bend the ball around.

‘This is one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League in this type of area and I just thought, “This is a huge chance”, and bang, back of the net before you could blink.’

Dorgu put United in front for the first time with a wonder strike shortly after the break (Picture: Getty)

According to Owen, Cunha should be a shoo-in to start against Fulham in a week’s time – especially with Patrick Dorgu picking up a suspected hamstring injury at the Emirates.

‘I think this lad is a serious player. Yes, he’s a bit of a maverick, he can probably frustrate at times, but I think he’s got pace, a lovely touch, he can score goals,’ Owen said of Cunha.

‘I was surprised that he didn’t start but saying that, after the performance against Manchester City, I can understand why Michael Carrick didn’t change things.

‘But he will start next game, no question about it, because it looks like Dorgu might have had a hamstring injury.’

Owen was a little confused by United’s decision to bring on Sesko in the closing stages, suggesting it was a ‘risky’ move from Carrick at such an important stage of the match.

‘I tell you what I was surprised about, I wasn’t sure about Sesko coming on,’ the 2001 Ballon d’Or winner said.

‘I thought that was a bit of a risky one, I thought he might bring Mason Mount on.

‘But anything Michael Carrick touches turns to gold!’

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