Wright: United keeper Bayindir 'nowhere near good enough'

Altay Bayindir fails to deal with a corner kick that leads to Arsenal's opening goal during Manchester United's 1-0 defeat (Illustrative image) (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images

Ian Wright has delivered a scathing assessment of Altay Bayindir following Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, declaring the goalkeeper "nowhere near good enough" for the club. The Arsenal legend's criticism came after Bayindir's costly error directly led to Riccardo Calafiori's winning goal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Bayindir found himself trapped on his line when Declan Rice delivered an excellent corner after 13 minutes. The Turkish goalkeeper's weak attempt to clear the ball fell straight to Calafiori, who headed home from close range to secure the victory for the Gunners.

Despite United's £200 million summer investment in attacking talent including Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, the club's goalkeeping problems remain glaringly unresolved. The expensive new forwards impressed on their debuts but were ultimately let down by defensive frailty, while David Raya was in excellent form in the Arsenal goal, denying United several chances.

Expert consensus emerges

Wright told Premier League Productions: "We have seen what happens with Andre Onana, we see it with Bayindir today and he is nowhere near it. Man United with the money they have spent, they need more goals and addressed that and I think Cunha and Mbeumo were very good today but what is the point when your goalkeepers are going to be that bad."

According to Metro, Gary Neville has identified specific targets to solve United's crisis, recommending Emiliano Martinez for around £40 million and Gianluigi Donnarumma as potential solutions. Neville emphasised the need for "big personalities" who can handle the pressure at Old Trafford.

BBC reports that Joe Hart provided technical analysis of Bayindir's error, stating the goalkeeper "got far too involved and got lost" during the set-piece situation. The former England international's professional assessment highlighted fundamental positioning mistakes that cost United the match.

Pattern of problems

Andre Onana was notably excluded from the matchday squad, with manager Ruben Amorim stating he was not deemed fit enough to make the squad on Sunday. The £47 million signing's disappointing two-season stint at the club has left United desperately seeking a reliable solution between the posts.

Manchester United have struggled to replace David de Gea since his departure in July 2023, with Bayindir having previously made a similar error against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. The pattern of goalkeeping mistakes continues to undermine the club's expensive attacking investments and tactical progress.

Sources used: "PA Media", "Premier League Productions", "Metro", "BBC", "Manchester Evening News"

Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.