Teddy Sheringham makes brutal early Man Utd vs Arsenal prediction as warning issued

Teddy Sheringham reckons Manchester United could get hammered by Arsenal in their first game next season – piling further pressure on Ruben Amorim. United welcome Mikel Arteta's side – runners'-up in the Premier League last season – at Old Trafford for their opening fixture of the new league campaign .

But United legend Sheringham, who helped the Red Devils to their historic Treble triumph of 1999, fears they could lose by as much as 4-0 to the Gunners, who will be pushing for the title after falling short the past two seasons. Sheringham fears a humiliating loss for Amorim's side on the opening weekend will see the United boss come under immediate pressure and suggested it may be hard for him to turn the situation around.

“United are signing players and getting ready for a much different season this year than last year, but they must have those concerns on their mind at the moment,” said Sheringham. “More so than what Arsenal have on their minds.

“It really is a horrible game for them to start the season. If the result is bad, if the scoreline is bad, things can escalate very quickly over there.

“Everyone’s talking about Arsenal having a big, tough start to the season. First six or seven games, they look really tough. But I think when the fixtures came out, it was United who looked at them and said 'Oh no, Arsenal at home in the first game'.

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“You can imagine Arsenal coming up there with all the confidence, all the intent right now. They’ve got the momentum, a good squad. United are still figuring it out under Amorim.

“If Arsenal go up there and roll United over and if they’re comfortable, get an early goal, a second before half-time, maybe even a third or fourth in the second half?

“Arsenal are usually really strong at the start of the season. You’re more likely to get a result if it’s later on and they’re looking over their shoulder a little bit. It’s only one game, but if Arsenal really roll them over, United fans are going to be putting the pressure on Amorim from the get-go.”

Sheringham also said United striker Marcus Rashford is making a big mistake by holding out for a summer move to Barcelona.

Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, after falling out with Amorim, but Sheringham said going to Barca would send out the wrong message to United and their fans.

“I certainly hope he isn’t,” said Sheringham, speaking to Racing Tipster. “A few years ago, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was seen as the bad apple at Arsenal. Arteta wanted him out and he ended up going to Barcelona. What a move that is, for a bad apple!

“For Rashford to not want to play at United, telling people after he signed a mega-deal that he doesn’t want to play for them, and yet he’s happy to pick up the money. Now he wants to go to Barcelona? It’s like, 'oof!'.

“I really hope it doesn’t happen. That’s not the way football careers should work, for me. If you’re playing well, okay, look at where you can go. See if you can get a move to a team like Barcelona. Try and make yourself even better.

“But not for downing tools and demanding that you get to go somewhere that’s debatably better than how you’re currently playing. That just doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t think Rashford could say that he has played his way into a move to the Camp Nou over the last few years.”

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