Manchester United given huge Mary Earps boost amid Arsenal Champions League nightmare

Manchester United will embark on their inaugural Champions League campaign this season.

Marc Skinner and his team took the fight for the top spot to the final day of the 2022/23 season, ending the year in second place in the English top-flight.

The Reds have had a huge overhaul this summer, with Skinner looking to fine-tune his attacking options. But while attacking reinforcements are all well and good, walking into the Champions League realm with the world-class Mary Earps between the sticks is arguably the biggest statement of them all.

United have been desperate to keep their grasp tight on their shot-stopper. The departures of top players like Ona Batlle and Alessia Russo were tough to take while 10 others have also bid farewell to the club this summer alone, but Earps is a prized possession.

She has a European Championship medal sat at home from 2022 as well as the Golden Glove award. She has a runners-up medal from the 2023 World Cup and another Golden Glove award alongside it. Not to mention the domestic Golden Glove from the previous Women's Super League campaign, a FIFA Best award and a Ballon d'Or shout - she is unstoppable.

All that is left to tick is that Champions League box.

Arsenal won the tournament back in 2007 but have fallen short ever since. Still, they are a club that knows what it takes to be at the top, having reached the semi-final stage last year - whereas United are still little seedlings pushing through the soil.

However, the debate could be about to be flipped up on its head after Arsenal were booted out of the Champions League qualifying stages on Saturday. They suffered a shock 4-2 loss on penalties to Paris FC after drawing 3-3 following extra time.

Does their elimination reduce the