What's Going On at Man United, Arsenal, and Coventry? David Ornstein Answers Fan Questions

Every Tuesday this season, soccer reporter David Ornstein joins The Athletic FC podcast to answer fan questions about English football. He speaks with hosts Emma Paton and James Horncastle about coaching staffs, player transfers, and more. This week, fans asked big questions about Manchester United, Arsenal, and newly promoted Premier League clubs. Ornstein gave detailed answers based on what he has heard from inside the sport.

One fan asked whether Manchester United's coaching staff is good enough. Ornstein said it is fair to ask the question, but also too early to judge manager Michael Carrick. Carrick started as a temporary fill-in manager and then earned the job on a permanent basis. Ornstein noted that United spoke to several top coaches before picking Carrick, and factors like cost, team chemistry, and stability played a role in the decision.

Ornstein reminded fans that Carrick's coaching was widely praised at the end of last season, when United played very well at home. He also pointed out that even the greatest managers — like Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Sir Alex Ferguson — made many changes to their coaching teams over time. The bigger concern at United right now is that the team still does not have a clear identity or style of play. They have brought in good attackers and midfielders this summer, but fans are still unsure what kind of team United truly wants to be.

United also tried to sign a left-back during the summer transfer window but could not land the right player. They looked at Newcastle's Lewis Hall and Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, but neither deal happened. They were even offered the chance to borrow Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri on loan, but said no because he was not seen as a long-term answer. Ornstein said United showed good judgment by not rushing into a deal, but the left-back position remains something they will need to address soon.

A different fan asked about Arsenal's reported interest in Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha. Ornstein confirmed he has heard that Arsenal do like the 18-year-old talent, but said that does not mean Liverpool will sell. Ngumoha is signed with Liverpool until 2028, and the club hopes to give him an even longer contract. Other clubs, including Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, have also shown interest — but Liverpool made it very clear last summer they had no plans to let him leave.

Ornstein said the most exciting thing to follow will be how much playing time Ngumoha gets at Liverpool this season. Manager Andoni Iraola loves using wide attackers, so Ngumoha could get a real opportunity to develop. There is no sign that Ngumoha is unhappy at Liverpool, so a move to Arsenal or anywhere else does not appear close. Fans will simply have to wait and see how his career unfolds at Anfield.

Emma Paton then asked whether Arsenal might look to sign a striker in January. Ornstein said it is possible, since Arsenal sold several forwards over the summer — including Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus — without bringing in direct replacements. He noted that Arsenal's owners showed a willingness to spend big on players like Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez, which shows the club has real financial power. However, Arsenal must also be careful not to break UEFA's financial rules, which limit how much clubs can spend.

Right now, Arsenal have been depending on Kai Havertz to lead their attack, with Victor Gyokeres seeing very little game time. Ornstein said Arsenal look solid at the moment, but injuries could quickly change things and create a need for a new signing. He was not aware of any specific January deal being planned, but called the question of Arsenal's next big attacking signing one of the most interesting stories of the season. The club wants to keep improving, and fans are eager to see who might arrive to help push them further.

Finally, a fan asked why Ipswich Town and Hull City seem to be handling Premier League life better than Coventry City. Ornstein said he is a big fan of Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil, who is widely respected by coaching experts as a future top manager. Hull City have also impressed under Sergej Jakirovic, and their owner has put a lot of money into the club. Coventry, meanwhile, are back in the top flight for the first time in many years and simply do not have the same level of resources.

Ornstein also shared that Coventry manager Frank Lampard was not entirely sure he wanted to stay at the club, even after guiding them to promotion. Lampard was considered for roles at clubs like Crystal Palace and Newcastle before choosing to remain. Now, with a difficult start to the season, Lampard is under pressure to get results quickly. Ornstein said the gap between the clubs comes down more to preparation and money than to coaching ability, and he praised Coventry's fans for their terrific support throughout the tough start.