Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has once again voiced his doubts about striker Joshua Zirkzee, questioning the Dutch forward’s contribution to the team following a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. Scholes, a former midfielder known for his sharp analysis, did not hold back in his post-match assessment, reigniting scrutiny over Zirkzee’s fit within manager Ruben Amorim’s system.
Speaking to Premier League Productions after the match, Scholes expressed his frustration with Zirkzee’s lackluster performance at Old Trafford. “Both teams are in desperate need of a striker,” he said. “Zirkzee, I thought, was a little bit disappointing today. I’m not really sure what he brings to the team. Is he a No. 9 or a No. 10? I don’t think he’s either, to be honest.” The comments underscore Scholes’ ongoing skepticism about the 23-year-old, who has struggled to make an impact since his £36.5 million move from Bologna in the summer of 2024.
Zirkzee, who started the game against Arsenal, managed just one shot on goal before being substituted in the 76th minute for Rasmus Hojlund. Despite showing flashes of promise in recent weeks—most notably scoring in a midweek Europa League tie against Real Sociedad—his output in the Premier League remains underwhelming. With only three league goals this season, the latest coming in a brace against Everton in December, Zirkzee has failed to silence critics like Scholes, who argue that Manchester United need a more reliable goal-scoring presence.
The draw against Arsenal, a hard-fought result for an injury-plagued United side, saw Scholes temper his praise for the team’s resilience with pointed criticism of their attacking options. He suggested that Amorim’s squad is “crying out” for a proven striker, a sentiment echoed by fans and pundits alike as United languish in the lower half of the Premier League table. “Rasmus Hojlund is obviously still having his issues,” Scholes added, referencing the £72 million signing’s current 20-game goal drought. “But with Zirkzee, I just don’t see where he fits.”
Zirkzee’s struggles have not gone unnoticed beyond Scholes’ critique. Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman recently delivered a harsh verdict on the forward, claiming he is “not good enough” for the national team in his current form—a stark contrast to his inclusion in the Oranje’s Euro 2024 squad after a breakout season at Bologna. At United, Zirkzee has made 42 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring six goals and providing two assists, but his adaptation to English football under first Erik ten Hag and now Amorim has been far from seamless.
Scholes’ comments come at a pivotal moment for Amorim, who has been in charge for over three months but has yet to lift United into the top half of the league standings. Despite the manager’s insistence on patience as he reshapes the squad, Scholes has previously sympathized with Amorim’s plight, suggesting he needs “three or four transfer windows” to rebuild the team. However, his latest remarks indicate little faith in Zirkzee as a long-term solution, urging the club to seek a new star striker in the summer transfer market.