Manchester United got 2020 off to the worst possible start with an abject 2-0 defeat away to Arsenal. 

This was a story of two dug-outs; one rejuvenated by the arrival of Mikel Arteta, who oversaw his first win, and another harbouring a beleaguered Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

The Norwegian is under renewed pressure despite back-to-back wins prior to the trip to the Emirates. 

Yet this was the very worst of United.

In the absence of Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba, the midfield looked hopelessly out of sorts. 

The same could also be said of the Red Devils' defence. 

Arsenal played with a new-found intensity but that does not excuse a string of errors from the visitors' back line. 

Harry Maguire found himself particularly under fire, perhaps inevitably given his £80 million price tag. A certain level of expectation is always going to follow the former Leicester defender around and he has failed to live up to it on several occasions this season. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might argue the England international was a wanted man in the summer. Several clubs considered stumping up the money, but it wasn't unforeseeable that he would subsequently underwhelm. 

Paul Merson suggested as much when the deal was confirmed. 

The Sky Sports pundit is never afraid to voice his opinions and often, he is ridiculed for sticking his neck on the line. 

However, Merson may well have got it spot on this time. 

"I worry for United. I don't see any good business here," he said. 

"Harry Maguire, £80m is ridiculous. It's ridiculous at the highest level."

When pressed by Jeff Stelling on whether Maguire was a good player, he responded. 

"He's alright. He'll improve them. £80 million. You've got to remember, he ripped it up with England. He played in a three. 

"When you're playing a three at the back, you're playing a three at the back for one reason only. The defenders aren't good enough. So you play three, because you don't trust them. 

"He done well at England. Here, you've got to remember. When he plays at Leicester, Leicester play, they drop back, they sit on the edge of their box, they defend, there's no space behind. The ball comes in the middle, he heads it out, he comes out running with the ball. 

"He kicks off now with Man United, and you're on the halfway line. All of a sudden, you're playing against Arsenal and you're playing on the halfway line, a ball's coming over the top for [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, or they're going over for Man City for [Sergio] Aguero. And it's pace, pace, pace. 

"I see a lad at Birmingham, Roger Johnson, I'm not putting him in the same breath - much better player, Maguire - but, he played for Birmingham, brilliant. Balls come in to the edge of his box, headed them out, jumping in front of balls, blocking. He went to Wolves and Shane Long ruined him."

Leicester are playing much more ambitious football under Brendan Rodgers but Merson was right to question whether United was too big a step up. 

It's still far too early to write off Maguire, of course. 

The 26-year-old is also far from the only problem in United's defence - but either way, he's yet to convince anyone that he's worthy of becoming the most expensive defender in the world.