Roy Keane makes brutal Michael Carrick claim after Man Utd stun Arsenal

Michael Carrick should not be given the permanent job at Manchester United, says Roy Keane (Picture: Getty)

Roy Keane questioned Michael Carrick’s credentials after Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Arsenal , insisting he shouldn’t be appointed permanent manager even if the side ‘win every game from now until the end of the season’.

Top-of-the-table Arsenal saw their advantage at the summit cut to just four points as second-half substitute Matheus Cunha came on and beat David Raya with a superb strike to silence the Emirates crowd in the 87th minute.

The visitors were forced to come from behind to earn maximum points in the capital after Lisandro Martinez directed the ball into his own net to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark.

A rare misplaced pass from Martin Zubimendi gifted the visitors an equaliser through Bryan Mbeumo before Patrick Dorgu’s emphatic 50th-minute effort sent the away end into a frenzy.

The league leaders had looked on course to salvage a point from the contest as Mikel Merino nudged the ball home after a goalmouth scramble with six minutes of normal time remaining – but Cunha had other ideas after coming on in place of Mbeumo.

The result saw the Red Devils leapfrog Chelsea into fourth place in the table, with Carrick securing six points against the Premier League’s top two after the club’s shock derby day victory over Manchester City in their previous outing.

Given the strength of opposition, even the most optimistic of United fans would surely have struggled to envisage such an outstanding start from Carrick in the Old Trafford hot seat.

Carrick has steered United to shock wins over Man City and Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

But there is already some talk of Carrick being given the job on a permanent basis if he continues in the same vein, so impressive has Ruben Amorim’s interim replacement been since taking up the reins.

But Keane has been reluctant to give Carrick his full backing and insisted United required a ‘bigger’ and ‘more experienced’ manager to take on the baton next summer.

‘I think it helps if you’ve got your best players available. That’s a big plus for them, people like Harry Maguire coming back in, you’ve got your attacking options,’ Keane said in the Sky Sports studio shortly after United’s stunning victory.

@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)

Cunha came on and won it for United at the Emirates (Picture: Getty)

‘The fact is that City had a big midweek game, Arsenal had a big midweek game. All these little details do help.

‘The one thing you would say with United is that, in these last two performances, they’ve certainly played with a lot of energy. They’ve had that look about them.

‘All the talk during the season was that United have no real distractions, but when I was watching them in the games it looked like they had loads of distractions, they weren’t playing on the front foot or with that energy.

The Red Devils moved to fourth with the victory (Picture: Getty)

‘The last couple of performances, they’ve looked that way and certainly their confidence and belief, even from the first few minutes today, there was something about them.’

According to Keane, Carrick is not the man to help steer United back to their former glory and to a level where they are capable of challenging for major silverware of a consistent basis.

‘Two big results,’ the former United captain said of Carrick’s start.

Arsenal’s lead now stands at just four points (Picture: Getty)

‘I think if United win every game from now until the end of the season, I still wouldn’t be giving him the job.

‘I just think they need a bigger, more experienced manager. Simple as that.

‘Carrick could win every game. The timing coming into the job was fantastic for him and he’s said it there, he’s enjoying it.

Carrick has picked up wins against the Premier League’s top two (Picture: Getty)

‘You enjoy management when you’re winning football matches, of course, but I think the size of the club and the challenges they face over the next few years… you want a manager you feel will come in and get Manchester United winning league titles.

‘Are we all going to sit here and think Michael Carrick will get Manchester United winning league titles? If you think on the back of two wins that he warrants the job then that’s your opinion and I’m entitled to mine.

‘I don’t believe he’s the man to get Manchester United back winning league titles.’

Neville wants to see a ‘world-class’ manager at United next season (Picture: Getty)

Gary Neville appeared far more willing to applaud Carrick on the job he had done since taking charge as interim head coach at such a difficult time for the club.

However, irrespective of where United finish the season, the ex-England right-back hopes to see a ‘world-class’ manager like Thomas Tuchel or Carlo Ancelotti in the hot seat come the start of next season.

‘He’s a really good person, he was a fantastic football player, he’s understated, he’s composed and he will not get too high or too low.

‘A few weeks ago, before the first game, I think everybody in football thought that a really successful thing would be for Michael Carrick to hold the baton for the rest of the season, put some happiness back into the players and fans, get the performance levels and try and get them into Europe – and if he does that, hand the baton over.

‘That was what everyone was thinking three or four weeks ago.

‘ Manchester United have acted emotionally a number of times in these last 10-12 years. Honestly, I could not be happier about these last two weeks. The familiarity of what I’m watching feels like I’m watching my team play again, properly.’

Neville – an eight-time Premier League winner with United – added: ‘Forget the fact they’ve won the games, they’ve just played the game properly, how I would expect them to play, with the intensity and energy and quality.

‘So I think it’s right that Michael Carrick keeps the job until the end of the season and hands the baton over to a Thomas Tuchel , Carlo Ancelotti, someone of that world-class ilk. That’s what his job is now.

‘Michael is an unemotional guy. He will realise that what I’m saying here is something that I said two weeks ago.’

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