Ian Wright has stood with Marcus Rashford against the Manchester United forward's critics by saying he can still perform at a world-class level, amid increasing speculation that he could join Arsenal.

Rashford's future has been thrown into turmoil by the events of the past week. It began with the England international being dropped by new manager Ruben Amorim for last Sunday's Manchester derby, citing performance in training and the way he carried himself around the training ground rather than disciplinary reasons.

He may have been hoping to return for Thursday's Carabao Cup quarter-final at Tottenham Hotspur, however an interview explaining he is ready for a 'new challenge' saw him dropped for a second successive fixture.

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"For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps," Rashford said, adding: "When I leave it's going to be 'no hard feelings'. You're not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That's me as a person. If I know that a situation is already bad I'm not going to make it worse.

"I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I'll make a statement and it will be from me."

His boss has kept the door open for his return to the squad, but wants the attacker's training performance to improve so that he can help him in return. Arsenal are reportedly one of the club's that could capitalise if it fails to go that way.

The entirety of this has occurred in front of a backdrop of Rashford only scoring seven goals in 24 matches so far this season.

Discussed on The Overlap podcast this week, Gunners legend Wright had argued with ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher over the player's quality - specifically whether he has passed the point of performing alongside the best in the Premier League, with Bukayo Saka cited as an example.

Replying in the comment section of the clip posted to Instagram, Wright defiantly pointed out: "I got to Arsenal at 28, but you expect ME to write off someone with the ability Marcus has at 27!!!! So many of you are desperate to see these young people fail so that you can say you were right. You would take 1% of the career Marcus has had."

On the episode itself, Wright had stated his belief Rashford is capable, agreeing that he perhaps does need a transfer to get a much-needed change of environment.