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JAMIE REDKNAPP hit out at Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover after the Gunners’ Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle. The Sky Sports pundit questioned “nonsensical” tactics from Mikel Arteta’s men in Tuesday’s semi-final defeat.Jamie Redknapp was not impressed with the Gunners defensive work against NewcastleCredit: GettyThe Sky pundit singled out set-piece coach Nicolas JoverCredit: GettyArsenal went behind in the 37th minute at the Emirates as Aleksander Isak continued his rich vein of form.The Toon forward pounced on a loose ball in the box after the Gunners failed to clear a routine set piece. Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka lumped a long ball forward which was headed on by Sven Botman. Jacob Murphy was unable to control the ricochet, but Isak took the ball off his foot and smashed into the roof of the net after holding off Martin Odegaard. READ MORE ON ARSENALThe Gunners have a dedicated set-piece coach in Jover, who has been credited with increasing their attacking threat at corners over recent seasons. But Redknapp was unimpressed with how Arsenal set up to defend the free kick on Tuesday – and questioned why Odegaard was tasked with defending 6ft3in Isak. Redknapp told Sky Sports: “The set piece coach gets a lot of credit he obviously doesn’t do the defensive one”Because how you can have Odegaard marking him, he’s the best centre forward in the country now, you’ve got to say, where is, let’s mark him. Odegaard’s got no interest in marking him. Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”He just gets into a really good position – if you’re doing something – look at Alexander Isak, he’s the wrong side of Odegaard. Someone’s got to take responsibility. “I know Newcastle are a big side, but Arsenal are a big side. Mikel Arteta bizarrely appears to blame Carabao Cup BALL for Arsenal’s missed chances as trophy drought set to continue”You cannot have the best centre forward in the country in that much space. It’s nonsensical to me.”Redknapp’s Sky colleague and former Arsenal star Theo Walcott was in agreement.And the ex-England star believes the Gunners are becoming to fixate on looking for set pieces. Walcott said: “With Arsenal, at this moment in time, what worries me is they’re getting excited by set-pieces all the time, instead of that free-flowing football.”That’s what Arsenal is known for, they’re shying away from it.”Anthony Gordon netted just after the break for Newcastle to hand them a 2-0 victory in the first leg of the semi-final. Despite the defeat, Arteta was adamant his team could turn things around on February 5. He said: “We have to be disappointed as it’s another result that we wanted, but that’s the reality.Arsenal player ratings v NewcastleBy Jordan DaviesDAVID RAYA – 6/10Looked nervy with ball at feet at times but could do nothing to stop Alexander Isak’s brilliant close-range finish.Unlucky to see his palmed save tapped in by Anthony Gordon.MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 8Very impressive again. Turned out of danger well at both ends of the pitch. So calm under pressure.GABRIEL – 6Gave Isak far too much space to manoeuvre a shot in the box before the Toon’s second. Wasteful and ineffective from corners.WILLIAM SALIBA – 6Had an early effort blocked near the line by Dan Burn. Was dealing with Isak well until losing a header to Sven Botman that saw the Toon striker score.JURRIEN TIMBER – 5Miised an absolute sitter from a yard out from a corner. Was then caught sleeping just after the break to allow Gordon to double Newcastle’s lead.THOMAS PARTEY – 6Linked defence and attack fairly well without ever really doing anything spectacular.DECLAN RICE – 6Plays Jacob Murphy onside from a flicked on free-kick that leads to Newcastle taking the lead. Took more responsibility in the second half on the ball.MARTIN ODEGAARD – 7Heavily man-marked by Joelinton but looked back to his very best after a spate of illness.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8Much more direct in his running. Unlucky not to open the scoring with his driven shot hitting the post after a half-way line sprint.Continued to be positive in his play – just lacked the finishing touch.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6Sneakily got away with dragging Isak down to stop the Swede joining a Newcastle counter in the first half and a good first-time pass to set Martinelli away. Those were his only highlights.KAI HAVERTZ – 5May just be back from a sickness bug, but the big German did very little, apart from somehow fluffing a header wide unmarked from six yardsSUBS:JORGINHO (PARTEY, 59) – 7Some nice passes into dangerous areas and sprayed the ball about with conviction.GABRIEL JESUS (TROSSARD, 59) – 6Lively and sharp without every really testing Newcastle’s back four or goal.]OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO (LEWIS-SKELLY, 77) – 5Booked within a minute of coming on for a rash challenge on Joelinton.”I have full belief [we will come back]. I have seen my team playing against them – I believe we can do it.”The Spaniard also had a bizarre excuse for his team’s wayward shooting, which saw them draw a blank despite 23 shots on the night.Discussing the Puma ball used for the Carabao Cup, he said: “We also kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these [Puma] balls fly a lot so there’s details that we can do better.READ MORE SUN STORIES”But at the end that’s gone, there’s no way back it’s about the next game and that’s our world, the reality is our world.”It’s just different. Very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies different. More

GARY NEVILLE and Jamie Carragher have spotted a Ruben Amorim tactic that has NEVER worked at Manchester United.The Red Devils slumped to their ninth defeat of the Premier League season against Newcastle on Monday evening.Gar Neville and Jamie Carragher have hit out at a Man United tacticThe club has not scored from open play when Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui have been at right-wing-backMazraoui and Dalot are not as effective for the Red Devils going forwardCredit: PAThe Magpies claimed a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford but the scoreline could have been much worse for Amorim’s side.During the game, Man United had ten shots but did not hit the target once.The hosts were ineffective in their attack without talisman Bruno Fernandes, who was suspended.However, Neville and Carragher have revealed another issue that Amorim is facing.READ MORE ON MAN UTDCarragher showed that when Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui start at right wing back, the team has not scored in open play.However, when Amad Diallo or Antony have featured in the position, nine goals were created from open play.Carragher claimed that the two more defensive-minded full-backs lack the “urgency” to get up the pitch.Speaking on Sky Sports: “That’s the problem with these two playing at wing-back and the problem we’ll see.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHowever, the Liverpool legend did insist that Amorim was right to keep his style of play.He added: “The manager has said he’s not for changing his system and I think he is right to do that, not to sort of adapt.Ruben Amorim hauls off Joshua Zirkzee after 32 minutes to huge cheers as Man Utd are embarrassed in first halfAmad Diallo and Antony have added more threat to the attack from the defensive positionCredit: Getty”He’s been brought in for a reason, to play that system and to provide at United what he provided in Lisbon with Sporting and the success they had.”I think it would be wrong to change, but that means I think he may have to go through a little bit more pain.”Neville also spoke about the information Carragher displayed while commenting on the match.He said: “There was a graphic shown before the game by Jamie Carragher that showed that when Manchester United have played Mazraoui and Dalot, the more defensive wing-backs, they haven’t scored a goal in open play.”Which is stark. And it is happening again in front of our eyes.”The stats that Carragher showed were from before the defeat to Newcastle.However, there was no improvement against the Magpies, and now, they appear even bleaker.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhen Dalot and Mazraoui were right-wing-back, the team failed to score from open play in 359 minutes.While the impact of Amad or Antony in the role is now nine goals from 361 minutes.Man Utd ratings vs Newcastle as Joshua Zirkzee is hooked after half an hour and Kobbie Mainoo the only bright sparkKOBBIE MAINOO’S performance was the only silver lining as Manchester United suffered a fourth consecutive defeat.Newcastle struck twice in the opening 19 minutes as they threatened to tally up a cricket score at Old Trafford.Joshua Zirkzee was ruthlessly subbed after half an hour after struggling in a No10 role – but there was no recovering for Ruben Amorim’s side.Here is how SunSport’s Kealan Hughes rated the United display…Andre Onana – 5Little he could do about both goals and was barely tested other than that.Noussair Mazraouri – 4The first two goals came down his side as he failed to close down the crosses that were turned in by Isak and Joelinton.But he was positive in possession and put in a few dangerous crosses.Matthijs de Ligt – 5Did not do much wrong for Newcastle goals but can be criticised for his failure to organise his defensive team-mates.Harry Maguire – 4Lost Isak for the opener as he was caught ball watching.Almost made amends but his diving header cannoned back off the post.Lisandro Martinez – 3A complete mismatch as he attempted to battle Joelinton for a cross the Brazilian turned in.Also lost Isak for the opener and even faced the wrong way as the cross came in.Diogo Dalot – 5Offered some much needed stability on the left flank and produced a good cross for Maguire’s headed chance.Casemiro – 3Dismal throughout. So far off the pace and barely made a pass.Missed a guilt-edge chance to pull one back on the stroke of half-time.Christian Eriksen – 4Similarly inept in protecting his defence as Casemiro, as he was overran time and time again.He did at least put a few passes together and improved after Mainoo came on.Amad Diallo – 4A tricky evening up against the hardworking Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall so was largely ineffective.Joshua Zirkzee – 2Nothing went his way and the fans quickly got on his back. He was hauled off in the 33rd minute and his substitution was greeted with cheers by the Old Trafford faithful.Rasmus Hojlund – 5Fed off scraps but did not stop running and was a rare bright spark – came very close with a low shot that whistled past the post in the first half.SubsKobbie Mainoo (for Zirkzee) – 6Turned things around after his introduction and made things happen with his accurate passing.Set up Casemiro for a chance the Brazilian should have buried.Leny Yoro (for Martinez, 64mins) – 6Had a good chance from a corner but sent his free header wide.Alejandro Garnacho (for Casemiro, 64mins) – 4Struggled to make an impact as he failed to beat a man.Antony (for De Ligt, 83 mins) – 5Not enough time to influence the match. More