"He's got to get on" - Alan Shearer hits out at Arsenal star for showing lack of hunger in FA Cup loss against Manchester United

Alan Shearer delivered a scathing critique of Leandro Trossard following Arsenal’s dramatic FA Cup third-round exit at the hands of Manchester United.

The legendary striker accused the Arsenal forward of lacking the necessary "hunger" after Matthijs de Ligt’s exceptional defensive intervention denied the Gunners a golden opportunity during extra time.

The clash at the Emirates Stadium had all the hallmarks of a heavyweight encounter.

A cagey first half ended goalless, but the game burst into life after the break. Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute with a sublime strike, curling the ball beyond David Raya to give United the lead.

Arsenal’s hopes were reignited just past the hour mark when Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second bookable offense, shifting the momentum.

Gabriel Magalhaes capitalized on the numerical advantage, heading in the equalizer in the 63rd minute to set up a thrilling finale.

Despite the advantage, Arsenal squandered several chances to seal the game. Their frustrations peaked when United’s goalkeeper, Altay Bayındır, pulled off a remarkable save to deny Martin Ødegaard’s penalty in extra time.

The Gunners continued to press for a winner, but United’s defense, led by de Ligt, held firm.

The game’s defining moment came in the 11th minute of overtime. A well-worked Arsenal move saw Raheem Sterling and Jorginho set up Kai Havertz, who delivered a low cross towards Trossard.

Positioned in front of de Ligt, the Belgian seemed poised to tap the ball into the net, but the Dutch defender produced a stunning last-ditch clearance off the line.

De Ligt’s reaction—celebrating wildly with United fans—underscored the magnitude of his effort.

Speaking on BBC commentary, Shearer praised de Ligt’s determination while aiming at Trossard for failing to capitalize on the chance.

"De Ligt, coming in right at the last second. He manages to clear it away, brilliant defending from him."

"It’s great defending from De Ligt. Having said that, if I’m in that position and I’m Trossard, I’m taking the lot and getting on the end of that. There’s no way I’m letting the defender get on the end of that. He’s got to get on, he’s got to show more hunger to get on the end of it and show the hunger that De Ligt shows. He’s got to have that and a bit more to put him and the ball in the back of the net."

Ultimately, United triumphed in the penalty shootout, winning 5-3. Trossard’s missed chance, in particular, became a focal point for post-match analysis, drawing sharp rebukes from pundits who questioned his commitment in a decisive moment.

Meanwhile, United marched on, buoyed by de Ligt’s heroics and Fernandes’ brilliance, leaving Arsenal to focus on regrouping for their Premier League campaign.

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Mikel Arteta calls Arsenal's loss to Manchester United 'one in a thousand'

Mikel Arteta described his team’s FA Cup third-round exit to Manchester United as a "one-in-a-thousand" anomaly, expressing disbelief at the outcome after a penalty shootout ended the Gunners’ campaign at the Emirates Stadium.

Reflecting on the defeat, Arteta praised his players’ performance despite the result.

Here's what he told BBC:

"It’s unbelievable. Obviously, you measure the performance and what we did about the position, you know, you deserve to win the game by a mile. But the reality is we are out, and the only thing that’s going to be judged is that, but internally, I can’t."

Arteta’s faith in his players remained steadfast, emphasizing the rarity of such an outcome given the quality of their display.

"I love my players. I love our team and I love how good they are and what they do because in a thousand games, you should lose one, and probably it was this one."

The defeat comes at a challenging moment for the Gunners, who must shift focus to a crucial Premier League clash against north London rivals Tottenham on Wednesday.