This player makes United better than Arsenal, this one makes them worse than Spurs, stats reveal

A brutal Manchester United stat has highlighted the massive gap between the influence of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte. Mainoo masterclass Mainoo played a key role as United beat Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday evening to tighten their grip on qualification for Champions League football. Matheus Cunha scored the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge, opening a 10-point gap between United and the Blues. Having missed the Leeds game with a small injury picked up in training, Mainoo was deemed fit enough to start vs. Chelsea and he certainly showed United what they had been missing. He controlled the game in the middle of the park, far outplaying Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, who cost Chelsea a combined £221.8m. Mainoo successfully delivered all passes he attempted into the final third. He registered a 95% pass accuracy and touched the ball 68 times. The England international also made five ball recoveries, three interceptions and as many tackles. He also contributed two tackles. StatValue Final third pass accuracy100% Pass accuracy95% Touches68 Carries21 Ball recoveries5 Interceptions3 Tackles attempted3 Tackles won2 Kobbie Mainoo’s game by numbers vs. Chelsea: 100% final third pass accuracy 95% pass accuracy 68 touches 21 carries 5 ball recoveries 3 interceptions 3 tackles attempted 2 tackles won Great to have him back. ✨ pic.twitter.com/EwQKKHdGdC — Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 18, 2026 After the final whistle, Michael Carrick claimed Mainoo’s display against Chelsea was his best yet under him. Contrast that to Ugarte, whose display during the Leeds loss left plenty to be desired and further strengthened the case for United to move him on in the summer. A stat has now emerged, showing the clear difference in impact between the pair. Eye-catching stat Whenever Mainoo has started for United this season, the 20-time English champions have gained an impressive 2.37 points per game. This is a better return than Arsenal, who are leading the Premier League table, have managed. On the other hand, when Ugarte starts for United, the team averages a measly 0.75 points per match. This is a worse rate than Tottenham Hotspur, who are currently in 18th place and fighting to beat the drop. When Mainoo starts in PL this season 2.37 pts per game Better rate than Arsenal who are top When Ugarte starts in PL this season 0.75 pts per game Worse rate than Spurs in relegation zone — Daniel Castle (Man Utd statto) (@RonnLennon) April 19, 2026 The situation at United couldn’t be more obvious. It’s time to move beyond Ugarte and recruit a player who complements Mainoo and can take the midfield to the next level. Featured image George Wood via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!