Yet Another Spirited United Performance Sinks The League Leaders and Dents their Title Charge
Match Report
A rightfully branded Super Sunday clash saw United travel down to North London to take on bitter rivals Arsenal. A classic Premier League rivalry which takes many fans back to thinking of fiery encounters led by Roy Keane and Patrick Viera. Although, only one of the two teams is seemingly fighting to get their name engraved back onto the iconic league trophy.
The performance against City last time out for the visitors added additional spice and hope from a Red Devil perspective. Making the game an even more tantalising prospect. With the away faithful turning up with as much expectation as hope that their newly invigorated team under new interim manager Michael Carrick could sink the league leaders and propel themselves into the top four; a feat they have had ample opportunity to replicate in past weeks. But this time, it felt different.
As the team news was released, unsurprisingly Carrick opted to go for an unchanged team, whilst Arteta chose to leave summer signing Gyokeres on the bench following his indifferent league form.
As the clock around the country struck 4:30PM, the game kicked off. The home side took early control. With Arsenal having much of the possession in the first quarter of the game, although failed to turn that early dominance into anything meaningful attacking wise, as Lammens remained relatively untested in the United goal apart from smartly tipping over a header; a save he would have expected to make.
After that, there was a bit of ebb and flow about both sides play as the visitors started to get the ball down and play, with some nice interchanges. But again, no real goal mouth threat. Given that it felt as if a set piece or a slice of fortune would be the thing to break the deadlock.
Just before the half hour mark it would indeed be the latter, and would go the way of the home side. A ball into the box was not dealt with by Martinez who was judged to have beaten his own keeper as he was tightly marking Timber and the ball ricocheted into the Manchester United goal. It wasn't pretty, but majority of The Emirates didn't seem to mind. 1-0 Arsenal, and on the balance of play was probably a deserved lead.
The goal however galvanised United who started creating chances, mainly through their ever reliable captain Bruno Fernandes who with a few guilt edge chances was unable to capitalise.
United continued to pressure and it took a horrible misplaced pass from Zubimendi who inadvertently played in Mbeumo who instead of taking the easy option and squaring it to his captain, composed himself well and rounded Raya to slot home the equaliser on the 37th minute. The summer signing who celebrates his 50th league goal and who is becoming a huge source of big game goals for United, and is undoubtedly a huge plus having returned from his stint at AFCON. 1-1, game on.
The away side looked up for it, but as the clock ticked down towards the end of the half they were unable to take the lead, despite Mbeumo's best efforts to lift one over Raya, just wide.
The whistle blew, but United would have definitely been the team who wouldn't have wanted the break, where as the home side would have 15 minutes (or so) to compose themselves and find that Midas touch which has them sat at the summit of the league.
United players were sent out to start the second half early and that keenness was rewarded with some early second half dominance as they continued the second as they finished the first. However, with Arsenal boasting the best defence in the league it was going to take something special to get their noses in front.
And special it was. As United played some slick one touch football. It was exchanges between Fernandes and Dorgu that would lead to a thunderous shot by the Dane. Who hit a shot of a lifetime on the half volley to beat Raya and cannon in off of the underside of the bar. The youngster was encouraged to take a bow by his team mates in front of the away fans, and after a short VAR check for a potential handball. The goal was given, and what a goal. 2-1 United.
Another handball call went against the hosts as Maguire handled as he fell to block a shot, but again the VAR ruled in United favour.
As is so regularly the case for Arsenal. They would find themselves level 5 minutes from time from a set piece. As an in swinging corner was eventually scuffed towards goal by substitute Merino. Which eventually crossed the line despite best efforts of fellow substitute Sesko on the goal line. As the referees watch buzzed, the official pointed towards the half way line to jubilant scenes inside The Emirates. With time still on the clock, the expectation was that Arsenal would be the team pushing to go on and win the game.
But Carrick's United team were not prepared to follow the script, and United would get the last laugh in this one. As they went straight down the other end. Mainoo who has been reborn under the new interim manager managed to manoeuvre out of a tight space and play through Sub Cunha. Who after a neat initial touch of his own found himself in space and was able to pirouette and drive forward with the ball. As the defence backed away from the Brazilian, he unleashed a superb whipped curling effort from range that beat Gabriel and Raya, and silenced The Emirates. 3-2 United, a goal truly worth of winning any match.
Despite 7 minutes of stoppage time, there was little goal mouth activity prior to the final whistle albeit Fernandes did fancy adding to the lead from half way, but found his effort well wide. Not that anyone from a United persuasion would mind as they have after 8 years got themselves a win away at their most bitter Premier League era rivals.
A sure fire Premier classic, with goals to match. The result which sees United dent Arsenals title charge and put themselves into fourth. A truly remarkable few weeks for United as Carrick win back to back games against the two best teams in the country. The mood around The Old Trafford team has totally changed, and even after only two games Carrick has put himself well and truly in the frame to take the job on a permanent basis. But for Arsenal, their lead is now down to 4 points having only picked up 2 points out of a possible 9, and inevitable nervousness if it wasn't already is certainly creeping in.
