Ally McCoist critical of Bukayo Saka as Arsenal lose to Manchester United

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Arsenal lost to Manchester United at Old Trafford last night and former Scotland striker Ally McCoist was critical of Bukayo Saka for passing up two big chances near the end.

McCoist has won the hearts of football fans for his brilliant analysis while on co-commentary over on Amazon Prime this week. Just like last year, the honest Scotsman has been a revelation in the box.

However, McCoist was far from impressed with Saka last night. With the Gunners trailing 3-2, the young England winger twice had the chance to score late on from identical positions. But both times, the chances fizzled out into nothing.

And McCoist, commentating on the game at the time, felt Saka’s positioning let him down.

“I think he should be further in. I really do. I think Saka’s position is too deep when it comes in. He’s too far outside the box. He should be another ten yards in and he can get a shot off,” McCoist said in the 84th minute.

And again, in the 87th minute, McCoist was once again critical of Saka as he fluffed a similar chance.

“It is a good tackle. But I think he should be five yards in again. He gets the ball but his angles a bit tight again. If he takes another five yards, he’s got more of the goal to shoot at.”

Saka has often been lauded for his performances in an Arsenal shirt. However, he showed his inexperience last night with these two moments.

TBR’s View: Saka a class act but McCoist is bang on

Bukayo Saka, has, quite rightly, had plenty of praise in recent seasons. But Ally McCoist is exactly right on this point here.

Saka could easily have had a goal here with a bit more football intelligence. As McCoist says, just a simple bit of movement can open up the chance.

Hopefully, Saka will learn from this and become even more clinical in future.