Man Utd star Antony 'becoming like Sancho' says Arsenal legend

Stuart Telford

• 25 Jan 2023 16:03 GMT
• 3 min read

Antony is going the same way as Jadon Sancho at Manchester United according to Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit.

Man Utd have been resurgent under Erik ten Hag of late, and the buzz around Sunday's meeting with Arsenal was akin to when Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were in charge of the two sides.

The Gunners ultimately won their latest meeting, fighting back from a goal down to win 3-2, maintaining their five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

READ: Antony, Gakpo, Madueke - how many Eredivisie signings were actually good?

Antony at least started the match whilst fellow winger Sancho wasn't even in the squad, but he was subbed off for Fred on 71 minutes with the game level, and cut a dejected figure ion the bench thereafter - something Petit picked up on.

Petit: 'losing confidence like Sancho'

"I'm not 100 per cent convinced by some of the players [Ten Hag] bought - especially Antony," Petit, a double winner with Arsenal in 1998, told the Sporting Post.

"I think he was disappointing yesterday and got some stick from the Arsenal fans when he left the pitch. He looked miserable on the bench when he got taken off. You could feel the pressure on his shoulders.

READ: 'He hasn't become a bad footballer overnight' - what Sancho can do to rescue Man Utd career

"I think he's losing confidence like Sancho and it's the role of the manager, his teammates and the club to help him come back to his best because I think they are losing him."

Antony joined United from Ajax in a €100 million deal last summer, and has scored some important goals, against Arsenal in their previous meeting as well as versus Man City. He has been accused of being as much style as substance by some sections of the support, however.

Sancho's journey has been similar. He was signed in an €85m transfer from Borussia Dortmund in July 2021, but has fallen out of the first-team picture under Ten Hag since the Dutchman took charge.