Arsenal hero Martin Keown has slaughtered the quality of the current Manchester United team.
Keown claimed United's best players as they were tortured by the Toon on Wednesday were old stagers Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand.
ESPN pundit Keown, speaking ahead of the broadcaster's coverage of three FA Cup third round ties this weekend, told the Daily Star: "I don't believe that the Man United players are quite as good as they were before.
"They were of a better quality than the guys that they are playing with.
"That Manchester United midfield is not exactly world class. I think we all know that Manchester United are not quite as good as they were.
"They have set themselves some high standards.
"Football is based on belief. If you step on that pitch and you genuinely believe you can do something or achieve something, you may well do something.
"And it's based on what you are playing against.
"But what we are seeing from Man United is not quite the same level of consistency we have seen in the past.
"So that gives everybody an opportunity or a chance when they play them.""Against Newcastle, Ferdinand and Giggs were actually their two best players.
