Joe Hart slammed an ‘indefensible’ error from goalkeeper Altay Bayindir after Manchester United’s opening Premier League defeat to Arsenal.
Arsenal, who were potent from set-pieces last season, scored from their first corner of the season after Bayindir flapped at an inswinging delivery from Declan Rice.
Riccardo Calafiori was standing in the six-yard box more out of hope than expectation but was able to nod the ball over the line following Bayindir’s mistake, that came following slight pressure from William Saliva.
Reacting to the goal, ex-England goalkeeper Hart said on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘I immediately got ready to defend Altay Bayindir, and then I saw the first replay and thought, “I can’t defend him here”…
‘Personally, I like to have my own defender in front of me so I can use him as a shield against an attacker and that’s not the option they’ve gone for.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
Metro’s new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it’s an open goal.
‘Saliba has done enough, but not done too much. Ideally, he wants to punch that with his right hand. He has got far too involved and got lost and made a bit of a mess with it.
‘It’s not a foul. Bayindir has got to scrap with his left arm to deal with Saliba and jab the ball away with his right.’
Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison also criticised ‘weak’ Bayindir after Arsenal broke the deadlock inside 15 minutes at Old Trafford.
Morrison also said United should be looking to sign a new goalkeeper before the summer transfer window closes.
The Red Devils were linked with Emiliano Martinez and Gianluigi Donnarumma earlier in the summer.
But Amorim looked set to keep his faith in Andre Onana for this season, although he then dropped him for the opening game against Arsenal.
‘Altay Bayindir – weak! He’s looking at everyone else to blame,’ Morrison said. ‘Man United have a problem with their goalkeeping.
‘You have to be strong. It is weak goalkeeping. Manchester United need to strengthen their goalkeeper.
‘There are top goalkeepers around that are available and you’re only as good as your goalkeeper.’
Old Trafford legend Gary Neville also suggested his former club needed to invest in a new goalkeeper before the transfer deadline.
‘The goalkeeper has got to be stronger,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘He will complain that he was fouled.
‘He has a player in front of him, there is a lot of pushing and pulling, but he has to be stronger.
‘I don’t think Saliba has done anything wrong and the ball just goes through Bayindir’s hands and Calafiori is there to profit. It’s going to keep hurting United.’
Onana’s absence against Arsenal was initially thought to be fitness-related but Amorim confirmed the Cameroon international was fit.
‘He’s not injured, he’s recovered… but the other players did well during pre-season, so I have to find a balance,’ he said in his pre-match interview.
‘Next week, it will be a different story. This week, we chose these players.’
Manchester United return to action next weekend with a trip to Fulham, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal play host to Premier League new-boys Leeds United.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.