Ian Wright: Arsenal would have beaten Man. United had Onana been in Goal

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes his side would have secured all three points against Manchester United in their latest Premier League meeting if Andre Onana had started in goal for the visitors, rather than backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Wright singled out Lammens’ early saves as decisive in United’s 3-2 victory.

“The goalkeeper made some good saves at the start. That’s what it is. I tell you what, I think we win that game if Onana was playing, absolutely!” he said.

The comment, widely shared by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, reflects Wright’s view that Onana, known for occasional high-profile errors during his time at Old Trafford, would likely not have produced the same level of shot-stopping that Lammens delivered in the opening stages.

Lammens, standing in while Onana is on loan at Turkish side Trabzonspor, helped Manchester United withstand early Arsenal pressure before the Red Devils fought back to claim the win.

Manchester United’s 3-2 success came in a tightly contested match that highlighted both teams’ attacking threat but also exposed defensive vulnerabilities. Arsenal, who entered with strong form, were left frustrated after failing to convert their early dominance.

Onana’s absence stems from his temporary move to Trabzonspor in the 2025/26 season, following a difficult spell at Manchester United that saw him lose his starting place.

The Cameroonian international has faced criticism for inconsistency, making Wright’s hypothetical a pointed critique of the goalkeeper’s reliability under pressure.

As it stands, Arsenal sit on 50 points from 23 league matches, while Manchester United occupy fourth place with 38 points. The result keeps United firmly in the Champions League conversation but denies Arsenal a chance to strengthen their own top-four push.