The Sky Sports studio witnessed a heated exchange between pundits Roy Keane and Micah Richards following Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. The bone of contention was Altay Bayindir's, the Manchester United goalkeeper, role in Arsenal's winning goal.
The decisive moment occurred in the first half when Bayindir failed to confidently deal with an Arsenal corner. Under pressure from William Saliba, the goalkeeper's hesitant attempt to claim the ball resulted in Riccardo Calafiori nodding it in at the far post. The goal ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Keane, known for his uncompromising analysis, was highly critical of Bayindir's performance. He argued that the Turkish goalkeeper needed to display more aggression and assertiveness in such situations. In Keane's view, Bayindir should have approached the situation with "violence," making his presence felt and dominating the area. He stated that Bayindir has to come with violence and be aggressive, almost sending a message to the players. He also added that it was like schoolboy stuff and the goalkeeper should take control of the situation instead of looking at the referee.
Richards, while acknowledging that Bayindir could have done better, offered a more nuanced perspective. He suggested that the goalkeeper was not adequately protected by his defense. Richards pointed to the imbalance between Saliba and Mason Mount, arguing that Mount was being "ragdolled everywhere". He also felt that Matthijs De Ligt could have provided better cover by coming inside, allowing Mount to move outside.
The disagreement escalated into a lively debate, with both pundits raising their voices. Keane retorted that Saliba wasn't doing much to him and the goalkeeper was on his heels instead of his toes. Richards countered by emphasizing the chaos in the box and the responsibility of players to protect the goalkeeper, allowing him to come out and punch the ball. Keane, however, remained unconvinced, stating that you can't babysit a goalkeeper and big boy stuff. He suggested that Bayindir should "go and play chess," implying that the goalkeeper needed to demonstrate greater composure and decision-making.
Despite the defeat, Keane remained unimpressed with the overall sentiment surrounding Manchester United's start to the season. He believes expectations are so low that everyone's almost happy.