Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has been criticised by Alan Shearer for his performance in the club's loss away to Manchester United on Sunday as the former England striker questioned whether the Gunners man has improved in the last five years.

Arsene Wenger's side suffered a major blow in their hopes of winning their first Premier League crown since 2004 when the Gunners took on a makeshift United side at Old Trafford and lost 3-2.

After an opening 28 minutes in which the score remained goalless, Red Devils youngster Marcus Rashford handed United the lead with his fine strike although for Arsenal, the manner in which the goal was created will have been disappointing.

Walcott gave away possession in midfield before the home side produced a swift counter attack that ended in 18-year-old Rashford scoring.

The teenager went on to score another goal three minutes later before Ander Herrera capped off the win with a second-half goal to render Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil's strikes for the visitors meaningless.

And, writing in his latest column for the Sun, Shearer questioned Walcott's performance in Manchester - describing the forward's error in the build-up to the first goal as "awful".

"The pace of Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott should have torn United's back four to shreds," Shearer said.

"Welbeck did OK in his first league start for 11 months scoring one but Walcott...

In Pictures: Manchester United vs Arsenal 15 show all In Pictures: Manchester United vs Arsenal 1/15 Old Trafford battle The best images from Manchester United vs Arsenal on Sunday... 2/15 Half and half scarf? A souvenir seller gets ready for the big game. 3/15 Debut delight Marcus Rashford was handed his first Premier League start as Anthony Martial missed out due to injury. 4/15 Defensive boost A rare injury boost for Louis van Gaal as David De Gea and Marcos Rojo both returned to United's starting XI. 2016 Manchester United FC 5/15 Old Trafford Battle Aaron Ramsey is pursued by a number of Manchester United players. 2016 Getty Images 6/15 Fight on the flank Guillermo Varela gets to grips with Nacho Monreal on the wing early on. 2016 Manchester United FC 7/15 Angry Arsene Arsene Wenger looks on in frustration despite Arsenal being on top in the opening stages. 2016 Getty Images 8/15 Rashford on fire Marcus Rashford capped his Premier League debut with an early goal to put United in front. 9/15 Debut brace And Rashford wasn't done there as he soon added a second to send United fans into dreamland. 2016 Getty Images 10/15 Welbeck strikes again Danny Welbeck gave Arsenal hope hope before the interval with another goal against his former club. 2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc 11/15 Another battle of the buffet? A clash between Aaron Ramsey and Ander Herrera threatened to create another Old Trafford battle between the sides. 2016 Manchester United FC 12/15 Lucky shot But Herrera had the last laugh as he sent in a deflected effort to make it 3-1. 2016 Getty Images 13/15 Hope for the Gunners Mesut Ozil struck back for the Gunners with a volley that bounced high past David De Gea to set up a tense finale. 2016 Manchester United FC 14/15 Home and dry But Marcus Rashford and United held on to cap a memorable win with a vastly depleted squad against title chasers Arsenal. 15/15 Title hopes over? The defeat leaves Arsenal five points behind league leaders Leicester and three behind Tottenham, meaning Arsene Wenger's side have it all to do it the title race with 11 games remaining. 2016 Getty Images 1/15 Old Trafford battle The best images from Manchester United vs Arsenal on Sunday... 2/15 Half and half scarf? A souvenir seller gets ready for the big game. 3/15 Debut delight Marcus Rashford was handed his first Premier League start as Anthony Martial missed out due to injury. 4/15 Defensive boost A rare injury boost for Louis van Gaal as David De Gea and Marcos Rojo both returned to United's starting XI. 2016 Manchester United FC 5/15 Old Trafford Battle Aaron Ramsey is pursued by a number of Manchester United players. 2016 Getty Images 6/15 Fight on the flank Guillermo Varela gets to grips with Nacho Monreal on the wing early on. 2016 Manchester United FC 7/15 Angry Arsene Arsene Wenger looks on in frustration despite Arsenal being on top in the opening stages. 2016 Getty Images 8/15 Rashford on fire Marcus Rashford capped his Premier League debut with an early goal to put United in front. 9/15 Debut brace And Rashford wasn't done there as he soon added a second to send United fans into dreamland. 2016 Getty Images 10/15 Welbeck strikes again Danny Welbeck gave Arsenal hope hope before the interval with another goal against his former club. 2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc 11/15 Another battle of the buffet? A clash between Aaron Ramsey and Ander Herrera threatened to create another Old Trafford battle between the sides. 2016 Manchester United FC 12/15 Lucky shot But Herrera had the last laugh as he sent in a deflected effort to make it 3-1. 2016 Getty Images 13/15 Hope for the Gunners Mesut Ozil struck back for the Gunners with a volley that bounced high past David De Gea to set up a tense finale. 2016 Manchester United FC 14/15 Home and dry But Marcus Rashford and United held on to cap a memorable win with a vastly depleted squad against title chasers Arsenal. 15/15 Title hopes over? The defeat leaves Arsenal five points behind league leaders Leicester and three behind Tottenham, meaning Arsene Wenger's side have it all to do it the title race with 11 games remaining. 2016 Getty Images

"He is 26 and the same questions are being asked of him now as they were five years ago.

"He barely got in the game and the way he lost the ball for the first goal was awful.

"Indeed, the defending for all three was terrible."