Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has compared Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku to a “traffic warden” following a listless performance against Juventus.
The 25-year-old Belgian marksman finished as the Red Devils’ leading scorer in his debut campaign (2017/18) and though Lukaku is currently joint-top of their 2018/19 goals chart – alongside Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial – he is currently enduring a goalscoring drought for his club spanning eight games. His last goal came against Watford in mid-September and he is, in fact, yet to find the net at Old Trafford since 31 March, in a 2-0 win over Swansea.
Lukaku’s most recent effort to end that run fell short and United’s meek showing against Juve in midweek drew criticism across the board. Keown, who won three league titles with Arsenal between 1997 and 2004, singled out Lukaku for his perceived lack of movement.
“He looked like he would rather have been anywhere else [v Juventus],” Keown told the Mail.
“This is a striker who is blessed with brute strength and electrifying pace. He should be roaring like a lion, but on Tuesday he played like a pussy cat — and not for the first time.”
The former Arsenal defender feels Mourinho’s tactics do not absolve Lukaku of blame, adding: “I do have some sympathy for Lukaku. He was not solely to blame for United’s defeat. Jose Mourinho got his tactics all wrong and his side looked completely ill-prepared to face the Italian champions.
“But it is at times like this when as a player you have to roll up your sleeves and be prepared to die for the cause. You say to yourself: ‘I may not believe in the tactics but I’m going to battle, scrap and make life as uncomfortable as possible for my opponent.’
“Lukaku looks like a traffic warden when he points at team-mates to tell them where to go but he does not offer any movement himself. When United’s full-backs were in possession, Lukaku did not come across to the flanks to offer himself.
“He did not get into the box enough to threaten and when he did, he was heavy-footed and lacked the anticipation to get on the end of anything. Once you take away Lukaku’s pace and power, he does not give you much else.”
Keown concluded: “United have to get him angry. Once they do that, we will see the snarling, physical, fearsome forward we know Lukaku can be.”
Romelu Lukaku’s Man Utd career so far
Since completing a £75m move to United from Everton in July 2017, and subsequently reuniting with his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, Lukaku has assimilated well into his new surroundings.
He began life at Old Trafford by registering five goals across his opening five matches for the Red Devils, including one in the Uefa Super Cup final against Real Madrid.
To date, he has featured 64 times in all competitions under Mourinho, bagging 31 goals – with 20 of those coming in the Premier League – and creating a further nine for his teammates. Lukaku is next expected to be in action for United during Sunday’s visit from Marco Silva’s Everton.
The post Romelu Lukaku looks like Man Utd’s immobile “traffic warden” – Martin Keown appeared first on Squawka News.
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