Manchester United v Arsenal review

 



Arteta


Manchester United v Arsenal review 

Arsenal suffered another loss against a fellow ‘big six’ side as they struggled to a 3-2 defeat by top four rivals Manchester United. 

The Gunners took an early lead through a bizarre Emile Smith Rowe goal, with the young English midfielder scoring from a volley from outside the box, despite goalkeeper David de Gea being on the floor injured after a collision with Fred from a corner. 

But United came back into the game just before half time when Bruno Fernandes scored his first goal for the Red Devils in 15 matches to level the scores. 

United dominated large parts of the second half and before long took the lead through Cristiano Ronaldo, before Martin Odegaard levelled the scores just minutes later. 

The Gunners’ hero soon became their villain though, as Odegaard tripped Fred in the box which led to referee Martin Atkinson pointing for a penalty after VAR got involved. 


Ronaldo


It was no surprise to see Ronaldo put the ball on the spot and proceed to smack it down the middle, with Aaron Ramsdale unable to prevent the Portuguese forward scoring his 801st career goal. 

It was a great game of football for a neutral, but for Arsenal it is another frustrating defeat against a side around them in the table, as the Gunners look to return to European football this season. 

Aubameyang taken off early 

 

Trailing 3-2 and with 15 minutes remaining, Mikel Arteta made the decision to take off his talismanic striker and captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang with Alexandre Lacazette replacing him. 

It was a decision that has received scrutiny in the media and from fans and suggests that all is not rosy between Arteta and his captain. 


Aubameyang


The Gabonese forward has struggled this season, scoring four goals from 14 matches in the Premier League, but missing glaring chances such as the one against Newcastle United at the weekend. 

Aubameyang signed a bumper new contract only last season and has struggled for form ever since, leaving Arsenal short of a natural goal scorer with neither Lacazette or Eddie Nketiah delivering. 

Defence unravelled by quality opposition again 

 

Much has been made this season of how good Arsenal’s defence has been and rightly so as they have kept six clean sheets in 14 games in the Premier League. 

Against top opposition though, the Gunners defence has proved to be far less stubborn, conceding 15 goals in matches against the other ‘big six’ teams in five matches, including thumping 5-0 and 4-0 losses to Manchester City and Liverpool respectively. 

It is this that Arteta and Arsenal must resolve to make that next step into the Champions League places, with the upcoming game against West Ham United a vital clash in the race for fourth. 

Where does this leave Arsenal? 

 

All was well and the future was bright at the Emirates a matter of weeks ago when they were enjoying their winning run, but two defeats in three show that the underlying issues that were seen at the start of the season are still there. 

There is a clear race for fourth place now, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool a long way ahead of all the other Premier League sides. 


That sees Arsenal battling with West Ham, Tottenham and Manchester United and there’s only three points separating the four sides, while teams like Wolves and Leicester are within striking distance. 


The Gunners are very much in the chase, which is an improvement on last season, but with both Tottenham and United bringing in new management and having favourable fixtures, Arteta’s men are going to have to be consistent to be playing Champions League football next year. 


IMAGE CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

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