When Aaron Wan-Bissaka scored Manchester United’s opening goal against Southampton, it created an unwelcome statistic.
United’s goalshy right-back had scored as many league goals (2) as centre-forward Anthony Martial.
Fortunately Martial came on at half-time to put that right. He left the pitch having doubled his league tally to move to four for the season.
In all competitions he is up to seven goals now, and has a further five assists to his name.
Back on track?
Martial’s performance in the defeat to Sheffield United was heavily criticised. Fairly too. He just wasn’t very good, and seemed to lack application.
He came out at half-time against Southampton with the team already 4-0 up. It can be difficult for substitutes like this to recapture the sizzling form of the first 45 minutes, with momentum disrupted. We saw it against Istanbul Basaksehir in November when United hit three first half goals and then just one in injury time in the second half.
United did start the second half slowly, before Martial provided the inspiration.
Bruno Fernandes lofted a ball into him, but still left him with plenty to do. Martial flicked the ball away from the defender, spun, and then lashed it into the roof of the net. This was the first of two goals he scored.
Martial only managed 20 touches, and yet from these, he had five attempts on goal.
That shows some real determination to make an impact, and he did exactly what his manager will have wanted him to.
Martial’s figures of seven total goals for the season look a bit better now. That’s one more than Edinson Cavani, although still nine fewer than Marcus Rashford.
This, hopefully, will be a turning point for him. In addition to his goals he won a penalty too, when he was felled in the box when he looked certain to score from close range.
Is Anthony Martial ‘back’? Who knows. Lets just savour a strong performance, which feels a long way away from the previous week’s miserable efforts.
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