Erik ten Hag says Manchester United are determined to keep Marcus Rashford after the revitalised England forward's fine start to the season.
Rashford has started all six of United's games so far but could be rested for the Europa League clash with Real Sociedad on Thursday – meaning a probable return to the starting line-up for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rashford scored twice against Arsenal on Sunday as he linked up with United's new signing Antony to inspire an impressive 3-1 win against the Premier League leaders.
The 24-year-old also netted in United's victory against arch rivals Liverpool as he finally returned to form.
The Englishman has struggled badly throughout the past two campaigns and was linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year before reminding United of his value with his recent flourish.
He is out of contract at the end of this season and United manager Ten Hag has no intention of letting him leave.
United retain the option of another year's extension and, when Ten Hag was asked whether the club were talking to Rashford about that, he said: “Definitely. I think United control the situation.
“I see a happy Marcus Rashford and I see some phases in his game which we could improve and we worked really hard the last two and a half months with him on different aspects.
Manchester United 3 Arsenal 1 - player ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 7: His best first-half moment was a 32nd minute save from Martinelli – three minutes after a save with his feet from same player. Getty -
Diogo Dalot 6: Cut the ball back towards Bruno in a second minute attack. That a right back was in an advanced attacking position on the left shows how far forward he can go. Crisp passing forward to Antony. Reuters -
Raphael Varane 6: Busy with Jesus in front of him and the pair tussled throughout. His ball led to Arsenal’s equaliser. But another 90 minutes under his belt, the fourth in a row. And with those, four victories. EPA -
Lisandro Martinez 7: Lucky not to be booked early on. Competitive, intelligent and occasional erratic. The only player to stop Jesus in one early attack. Arsenal’s equaliser went through his legs. Left the field with fans singing ‘Argentina!’ in his honour. AFP -
Tyrell Malacia 6: His hardest match since he joined United. Beaten for pace by Saka in an 18th minute Arsenal attack, made a couple of clumsy challenges, but found his groove and played the duration. Roared as he outjumped the taller Nketiah in injury time. Getty -
Scott McTominay 8: Keeping his place in side after solid recent performances. Tackled Jesus strongly to a roar after six minutes. Yellow card after 70 after he wrestled same player to ground. Connected with a Martinelli bound cross on 90 – to congratulations from De Gea. AP -
Christian Eriksen 8: Volleyed wide in opening 10 minutes. Integral to setting up Antony’s goal. Tireless, creative. Fouled by Odegaard in the run up what Arsenal thought was a goal in first half. His best game since joining United. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes 7: Groans after he lost possession a couple of times in the first half. Badly fouled by Sambi after 26 and went to ground. Tries the risky ball forward all the time – like when he set up Rashford for the second. Grafted non stop. AFP -
Antony 8: Dream debut for the big money signing. Incredible skill to get the ball to Dalot from a cul-de-sac with two Arsenal players around him. Put his team ahead and celebrated like it was the greatest moment of his life. Tried a chip from distance on 45. A quiet second half. Getty -
Jadon Sancho 6: A shot on target after 10 in a bright start for United. He wasn’t decisive, he didn’t beat his man enough, he wasn’t really heavily involved. AP -
Marcus Rashford 8: Beautifully timed ball to set up Antony for United’s opening goal. Then put United back in front after 65, sprinting onto a Fernandes pass and finishing in front of the Stretford End. Quality moment, as was his second for the third goal. Left the field with Stretford End singing his name. EPA -
SUBS: Cristiano Ronaldo (On for Antony 58’) 6: Jumped high to head an Eriksen ball. Poor cross towards goal on 72 and gave the ball away on 90, too. AFP -
Fred (On for Sancho 67’) 6: Played in a more advanced role than usual. Counter attacked on 82, but played a poor ball forward to Ronaldo. Did similar oin injury time. AFP -
Harry Maguire (On for Martinez 80’) N/A. Picked up a yellow within a minute. Getty -
Casemiro (On for Rashford 80’). Getty -
ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 6: No sign of problem that made him injury doubt. Blocked early Sancho strike with legs in 10th minute and forced into good save from Fernandes in second half after gifting the ball to United with woeful pass out. No chance with goals as defence was pulled apart each time. Reuters -
Ben White 7: Intriguing contest with England teammate Sancho and won the battle keeping the former Dortmund attacker very quiet, but United man will have bragging honours with final result. Getty -
William Saliba 6: Defender side-footed good chance wide of target in opening 10 minutes. Booked for tactical foul on Sancho. Caught out by pass through middle for Rashford’s first goal. Reuters -
Gabriel 6: Dragged well out of position in run-up to Antony goal. Had helped keep Rashford’s influence to a minimum, until England attacker suddenly bagged himself two goals in nine minutes as Arsenal’s back line was ripped apart. Getty -
Oleksandr Zinchenko 6: Up against a bag of tricks in United new boy Antony. Forced to cover for Gabriel and pulled out of position himself ahead of Brazilian’s opener. Getty -
Albert Sambi Lokonga 6: Neat and tidy, combining with Xhaka to do the donkey work and help Odegaard pull strings and control game for an hour. But Arsenal completely lost control of midfield after second United goal. EPA -
Granit Xhaka 6: Had produced impressive show in middle of park until Arsenal made triple substitution and team completely lost shape. Made right mess of pass near touchline at 3-1 down that almost resulted in United scoring again. Reuters -
Bukayo Saka 8: Nice through ball to Martinelli before attacker’s early goal was disallowed. Left Malacia for dead with one surging first-half run. Pulled shot across face of goal just after break but made no mistake on the hour with goal that had been coming. Late booking for foul on Malacia was sign of Arsenal frustration. Getty -
Martin Odegaard 7: Captain bundled over Eriksen at start of move that resulted in Martinell’s goal being chalked off. Sprayed the ball around superbly in midfield as Gunners dominated large sections of game. PA -
Gabriel Martinelli 7: Could have had first-half hat-trick. Showed cool head to finish after 12 minutes but goal disallowed after VAR check. Had shot and header saved by De Gea. AFP -
Gabriel Jesus 8: Taunted with “City reject” chants from home fans from first minute but led the line superbly and caused United’s defence constant problems. Best player on pitch for 65 minutes until Arsenal lost all shape and capitulated. AFP -
SUBS: Emile Smith Rowe (On for Odegaard 74’) 4: One of three attacking substitutions by Mikel Arteta that left Arsenal totally open at the back. Reuters -
Fabio Vieira (On for Zinchenko 74’) 4: Volleyed one shot well over bar from edge of box. -
Eddie Nketiah (On for Sambi Lokonga 74’) 4: No chance to make impact. AP -
Takehiro Tomayisu (On for White 80’) N/A. AFP
“He really likes it and wants to transfer it to the pitch and that is what you see in this moment. It started with happiness. He comes in every day, he enjoys it, he is really smiling, with a really positive vibe.
“If you put all those things together, like the way of playing, you want to transfer different aspects of your game and are happy, you will have more contribution to the team, the performance and the result.”
If Rashford is rested for the Europa League clash at Old Trafford, Ronaldo could get only his second start this term, with Anthony Martial still sidelined with an Achilles injury.
The Portuguese forward's only start so far was in the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford in the Premier League in August.
“He [Ronaldo] started against Brentford. Then not since but he is ready to start,” Ten Hag said.
“We not only have a team, we have a squad, that is clear, it's the mentality what Manchester United need.
“Maybe I cannot keep them all happy every game, but everyone gets their game time if they perform well, [it is] quite clear.”
Ten Hag's rotation policy will probably see the likes of midfielders Casemiro, a £60 million signing from Real Madrid, Fred, club captain Harry Maguire plus fellow defenders Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka feature but left-back Luke Shaw and midfielder Donny van de Beek were absent from training at Carrington on Wednesday.
