If the representatives of Facundo Pellistri or Anthony Elanga were short of leverage in this transfer window, Erik ten Hag provided them with it on Sunday.
"On the bench we are limited in offence, we know that," Ten Hag shrugged. Elanga, a starter in four consecutive games in August and September, is without a club goal since February 22. Pellistri's United career amounts to 11 lively minutes against League Two Charlton a fortnight ago.
As United approach the final week of the window, their highest profile departure of the month is Shola Shoretire, a matchday squad inclusion on only three occasions. The end of the month for United is bound to be low-key, pending no significant injury.
Also read: Ten Hag has a stronger case for the next stage of United's rebuild
Anthony Martial's value is soaring without scoring. When he has a consistent run of starts he is inconsistent. Wout Weghorst is a smoother funnel for United to flow through yet the tap remains off. The Dutch striker was not a goal threat south and north of the Thames last week.
The reluctance to let Elanga or Pellistri go is more understandable than the reluctance to play Pellistri. United's attack has an extra body in Weghorst, someone Ten Hag is not hesitant to utilise even if he is not the striker United need to pump up their numbers.
United's issues with putting the ball between the posts will persist until the conclusion of the campaign. Marcus Rashford is in career-best form and his Premier League goals have secured 18 points already. He is the headline billing of an attack with an inadequate supporting cast.
The most effective United left-footer is in the Championship. Amad scored his seventh goal of the season for Sunderland in their 2-0 win over Middlesbrough and there would be support for his recall, not that Ten Hag intends to exercise that.
Antony, without a Premier League goal in more than three months, is one-paced, self-indulgent and predictable. Two winless games and two withdrawals ensure his form will now be suitably scrutinised after United's winning run reprieved the Brazilian.
Jadon Sancho is "improving but it has to go step by step", Ten Hag reiterated for the umpteenth time at Arsenal. Rashford is more immovable on the left than Sancho was during his purple patch last season and the £72.9million winger may have to plough his turf on the right-hand side.
Bruno Fernandes is one of the most durable members of the United squad but without recognised back-up as Donny van de Beek is sidelined until the summer. Fernandes has retooled his game under Ten Hag and is a better player, even if he does not have the flattering numbers.
United are now lighter in midfield than in attack. Bookmakers shortened Arsenal's odds to beat United on the strength of Casemiro's suspension and replacing him with Scott McTominay is like going from Sean Connery to George Lazenby.
McTominay is a committed enough performer with merit whose career will likely be reassessed in the summer amid Ten Hag's predilection for a younger world-class midfielder. McTominay will resume his supporting role once United's Premier League season resumes against Crystal Palace on February 4. Kobbie Mainoo has usurped Zidane Iqbal in the midfield pecking order.
Despite shipping three avoidable goals at Arsenal, the defence is rounded. Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are one of the best partnerships on the continent, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has finally shown up and Tyrell Malacia has had a reasonable quota of starts at left-back with the league's best to contend with in Luke Shaw.
Full-back Brandon Williams is surplus and would relish a loan move before next week's transfer deadline. Ten Hag has already used Malacia and Victor Lindelof as auxiliary right-backs while Martinez is an emergency option at left-back.
The goalkeeping department will undergo a revamp in the summer with the three 30-somethings all technically out of contract and Dean Henderson''s papers possibly scheduled for the shredder.
Axel Tuanzebe's glacial recovery from injury means a move before next Tuesday is not on the cards and, when fit, he has a versatile skill set Ten Hag could make use of.
United are not limited in some areas.
Probable post-window United squad:
Goalkeepers: De Gea, Heaton, Butland
Defenders: Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Malacia
Midfielders: Casemiro, Eriksen, McTominay, Fred, Mainoo
Forwards: Antony, Pellistri, Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho, Elanga, Weghorst, Martial
READ MORE:
What Ten Hag told players in the dressing room after defeat Game plan change in 74th minute invited Arsenal onto United United player ratings vs Arsenal Casemiro was missed in the most important moment at Arsenal All the United news and views
