‘My intention was to even send him on long term injury’: Lisandro Martinez finally responds to Arsenal fans recent criticism on his rough injury-threatening tackle on Bukayo Saka

Lisandro Martinez has been accused of not knowing what a friendly is following a brutal tackle on Bukayo Saka.

Manchester United kicked off their pre-season tour of the US with a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. Erik ten Hag’s side then won the post-match penalty shootout, which had been planned prior to kick-off regardless of the result.

Friendlies are usually gentile affairs with few heavy challenges and even fewer cards. But try telling no-nonsense United defender Martinez that. The Argentine was booked for a rough-house tackle on Saka which would have raised eyebrows during a Premier League clash between the sides, let alone a pre-season game.

The challenge didn’t go down well with Gunners fans, with one raging: “Lisandro Martinez is such an idiot. Why do you tackle like that in a friendly?”

Another said: “That Martinez tackle on Saka was dirty. Absolutely no need for it in a friendly.” A third said: “It’s a friendly. He should take it easy.”

Arsenal and Saka perhaps should not have been surprised by United’s approach after Ten Hag warned before the game that his side “don’t play friendly games”.

Following the match, the Dutchman said: “The way we played, I was really pleased, how active we were in and out of possession.

“That is the way we want to play and that is the only period of the year you can really work in training and translate it to games without it having consequences. But still, we want to win, and I think the lads showed we played a good game.

“Of course, they are all great games. We have to go and it helps us to progress and especially those opponents, they are good.

“Arsenal is a really good opponent. They played incredibly good last season in the Premier League, so yeah, that’s good to match with them, then you will be better.”