'So bad' - Roy Keane slams Man United after Arsenal loss ahead of Newcastle United clash

Roy Keane has slammed the current Manchester United team ahead of the clash against Newcastle United on Wednesday. The Red Devils suffered a 1-0 defeat to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, where the former midfielder labelled the performance as 'so bad' at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag's side are following the Magpies closely in the race for sixth place. Newcastle currently occupy the spot following the 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, with Chelsea level on points after beating Nottingham Forest 3-2 away from home.

Meanwhile, Man United slipped to their 14th defeat of the season against Arsenal, as Leandro Trossard tapped home a tame cross from German international Kai Havertz. Ten Hag was without several key first-team players for the game - including Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford - and was also forced to field five teenagers on the bench due to other injury issues in the squad.

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Speaking on Sky Sports shortly after the loss, Keane highlighted the injury crisis at the club as one of the reasons the team are losing belief. "There have been genuine problems at the club. The injuries in the back four and he has been honest with that. But with the more games you are losing and being eighth in the table, yeah, you end up losing that belief," Keane said.

"There's huge problems at the club. Last year there was some positives, we have to be honest with that. And they have an FA Cup final coming up, and if they manage to beat Man City, it's going to be very, very difficult, but there's huge challenges he's facing, and he's under huge pressure."

Keane went on to talk about the performance against Mikel Arteta's side, where he added: "I think Arsenal will be thinking how lucky they were to play such a poor Manchester United team today. The end product, the lack of quality, the decision making, people making mistakes and not putting demands on each other.

"No one digging each other out for mistakes. That United team out there today, particularly in the last half an hour, were so bad. Job done, three points. Clean sheet. I think the disappointment for me, especially the last half an hour, was United.

"Against that team today, I bet you Arsenal could not believe how bad United were. For the possession they had, the lack of quality. We are talking about the great teams over the years and the great players they have had, but that last half an hour.

"Decision making. Nobody is digging anybody out. People making mistakes all over and players just walking away. Not putting demands on each other. That United team there, so bad."

Newcastle will travel to Old Trafford on Wednesday evening (8pm kick-off), in a bid to extend their three-point gap on the Red Devils in eighth place. The Magpies won the first meeting between the two sides 1-0 back in December, as Anthony Gordon's effort secured all three points at St James' Park.