What Michael Carrick said about Diogo Dalot ahead of Arsenal showdown

As Manchester United prepare for their toughest test yet under Michael Carrick, a trip to league leaders Arsenal, the spotlight has fallen squarely on Diogo Dalot.

Despite a massive 2-0 win in the Manchester Derby, fans are debating whether Dalot should keep his spot with a key signing returning from international duty.​

In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Carrick was quick to shut down the noise surrounding Dalot's all round display against Manchester City.

Referring back to the Derby, where Dalot walked a tightrope after an early yellow card for a challenge on Jeremy Doku, Carrick was full of praise according to the club website.

"I thought he played ever so well... To go one-on-one with the winger for the rest of the game and to manage that and defend as well as he did was very impressive."

Carrick acknowledged that it hasn't been a smooth season for the Portuguese international, noting there have been "ups and downs," but emphasised that Dalot is "really focused" and "desperate to do well" for the club.

While Carrick focused on Dalot’s character, the statistics from the 2-0 win over City tell a more complicated story.

The Good: Dalot managed eight defensive contributions, two tackles, two interceptions, five- recoveries and successfully navigated nearly 80 minutes of football without picking up a second yellow while facing Doku.

The Bad: Fans were quick to point out a "near-meltdown" from Carrick in the 19th minute. After Dalot overhit a simple pass to Amad Diallo on a promising break, cameras caught Carrick smiling in disbelief before regaining his composure.

The pressure on Dalot is intensifying because Noussair Mazraoui is back at Carrington. Following Morocco’s heartbreaking defeat to Senegal in the AFCON 2025 final, Mazraoui has been granted extra time off but is expected to be available for selection against Arsenal this Sunday.

The fan reaction has been brutal. On social media, the sentiment is leaning heavily toward a change at right-back:

One viral post pleaded: "Abeg return to Manchester asap, Dalot wan end me."

Others highlighted Dalot's high turnover rate, with some fans claiming he has been "stinking it up" despite the Derby result.

Carrick has a major tactical dilemma. Does he stick with the impressive Dalot, who just helped secure a clean sheet against the champions, or does he immediately reinstate Mazraoui to handle the threat of Gabriel Martinelli at the Emirates?

Carrick kept his cards close to his chest: "I’m not going to tell you the team... everyone came through the game really well."