'There is no ceiling to Heaven's potential'

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On 11 November 2014, Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United travelled down to London to face a “Big Six” rival with a makeshift defence.

Academy duo Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett lined up alongside Chris Smalling at the Emirates Stadium as United beat Arsenal 2-1.

That season was the last with no European football on the calendar. United went on to seal a top-four finish and a Champions League return.

So it feels fitting that Michael Carrick – who started in midfield that day – all-but sealed a Champions League return with a makeshift defence in London on Saturday.

Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Ayden Heaven and Luke Shaw made up the back four at Chelsea.

With Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez harshly suspended and Matthijs de Ligt stricken with a long-term back injury, the fragility of that defence dominated the build-up.

Yet, the quartet was anything but fragile. I believe a social media dweller would say “the football scriptwriters cooked with this one”.

United’s three full-backs and 19-year-old centre-half overcame the adversity to keep a rare clean sheet and secure a season-defining three points.

Dalot needed to be at his best and he was. He pocketed starboy-turned-villain Alejandro Garnacho.

Shaw showcased his experience to keep possession and win smart fouls when United fell under the cosh.

Mazraoui had a particularly torrid night against Leeds five days prior. But he bounced back and his versatility is why his £17m acquisition was so shrewd.

And Heaven? Somewhat rash at times on the edge of United’s box, but that’s to be expected of a teenager who hadn’t even played 30 minutes under Carrick before being thrown in the deep end at Stamford Bridge.

His physicality, his composure on the ball, his consistency at such a young age… Heaven shouldn’t be bottom of the centre-back pecking order.

Arsenal’s inability to see things through has become a common topic of jest in the football world.

United can be thankful that the Gunners also couldn’t see Heaven’s development through, instead handing him over for just £1m. There is no ceiling to his potential.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC

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