Manchester United travelled to north London earlier today for a high-stakes matchup with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. United had already beaten Arsenal 2-1 this season, in what is the Gunners only loss. The league leaders are in scintillating form under manager Mikel Arteta, and they had revenge on their minds going into this match. They also knew that they needed a victory to maintain their 5 point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League table. United were handicapped in this match by the absence of superstar defensive midfielder Casemiro, who was suspended due to yellow card accumulation. In attendance at this match was England manager Gareth Southgate, undoubtedly on hand to scout the wealth of English talent on display for both teams.
This match was a wild one almost from the opening whistle. United struck first on 17 minutes thanks to forward Marcus Rashford, who lashed home a low and powerful shot from about 22 yards out into the left hand corner of Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale’s goal. Rashford has now scored in 10 of the last 11 games, and this one may be the best one he’s hit all season. He was in good position running centrally towards goal after beating a man on the dribble, and the Arsenal defense gave him far too much room just outside the edge of the area. His shot was hit with a swerve on it and fit into an insanely small window! The goal was somewhat against the run of play, but Arsenal gave the ball away cheaply and it was 1-0 United nevertheless!
United’s lead was short-lived however, as Arsenal were level just 4 minutes later thanks to a well-taken header by England striker Eddie Nketiah. Arsenal cycled the ball around the left side of the box well, before it was finally played out to midfielder Granit Xhaka on the left wing. He pinged a dangerous aerial cross into the box where Nketiah was able to head home largely unmarked. United’s defense let them down on that one. They either needed to stop Xhaka from getting the cross in or pick up the run of Nketiah at the back post. They did neither, and Arsenal were level at 1-1. They were good value for their goal was well, given their possession. The rest of the half was rather tame in comparison to the opening 25 minutes or so, with only some long range efforts from both sides that did not trouble either keeper. Interestingly, Arteta was yellow-carded for leaving his technical area! You don’t see a manager getting carded every day and it was actually pretty funny. 1-1 at halftime though with all to play for.
An already-simmering match came to a boil in the second half. Arsenal were dominant in the opening, pressing United well and creating chances via wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. United were having a tough time getting on the ball, and bad things tend to happen when the opposition is constantly in your half of the pitch. Saka made United pay on 53 minutes with a world class goal of his own when he cut inside from the right wing about 25 yards from goal. Midfielder Christian Eriksen was attempting to mark him, but Saka was too quick and he unleashed a spectacular curling effort that beat United keeper David De Gea at his far post. A wonder strike that really put an exclamation point on Arsenal’s spell of possession. Eriksen has to be quicker to close him down there, but the shot from Saka was sublime. 2-1 Arsenal.
But United were not done fighting. They pulled themselves up off the mat and landed a gut punch of their own on 59 minutes thanks to center back Lisandro Martinez. United’s World Cup-winning center back was on hand to stoop low and steer home a floating header after Arsenal failed to clear a United corner. Ramsdale collided with his own man attempting to clear the ball, and it fell straight to the diminutive Argentine. An Arsenal defender attempted to head the shot clear, but couldn’t keep the ball out. 2-2, and a great time for The Butcher to open his United scoring account. His bandaged head and black eye were perfect metaphors for his fighting spirit.
The final 20 minutes of this match were agonizing to watch, as the Red Devils were being completely overwhelmed by Arsenal’s passing and pressure. Saka hit the left post with another sublime shot on 70 minutes, and De Gea was forced into a diving reflex save from Nketiah on 84 minutes after United failed to clear a free kick. Frustratingly and annoyingly, Arsenal got their winner on 90 minutes from Nketiah. He steered home a pass/shot from attacking midfielder Martin Ødegaard after United failed to stop a cross in from the left side by fullback Oleksandr Zinchenko. Zinchenko’s cross was hit towards goal by Ødegaard, and he managed to awkwardly poke it home for 3-2 as the clock hit 90 minutes. There was more than a hint of offside about the goal, but VAR confirmed the decision by referee Anthony Taylor and the goal stood. Arsenal held on well through stoppage time as United’s players looked utterly spent, and the league leaders won 3-2.
It’s never fun to lose to a late goal, and this one stings because I felt that United were going to hold on and earn a point. 2-2 felt like a fair result, but Arsenal’s dominance in the final 20 minutes paid off for them. More worryingly, this is the second match in a row where United have conceded a late goal. Our players look tired towards the end of matches. I know that if Casemiro was playing then this result is probably different, but the thinness of our squad in midfield is starting to show. Without Casemiro, this team can get played off the pitch by a talented midfield. Arsenal proved that today. Good games from Rashford and Martinez, poor games from Eriksen and midfielder Scott McTominay.
There is a silver lining for England fans here. Rashford, Saka, and Nketiah were all in sensational form today and have been for good portions of the season. Ramsdale, left back Luke Shaw, Arsenal right back Ben White, and United right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka were all heavily involved today too. The English lads are playing in big matches at a very high level. That is good news for Southgate, and I imagine a call-up to the senior England squad is in the very near future for Nketiah. I was highly impressed with his positioning and finishing today, even if it was against my club.
Arsenal maintain their five point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table, while United drop down to fourth. They are level on points with Newcastle in 3rd, but have an inferior goal difference. At this point, the title is Arsenal’s to lose. They will need to beat City at least once, but they are in good position right now with just over half the season played. United still look strong to finish in the top four, as there is a six point gap between them and 5th-placed Tottenham. I was perhaps a tad premature with my “title race” proclamation two posts ago, but that’s fine. I am not expecting us to win the title this year. We need to finish top 4 and win a trophy if we can, then load up on more players in the summer.
United next travel to the East Midlands where they will take on Nottingham Forest on Wednesday in the League/Carabao/EFL Cup semifinals. United are in prime position to win a trophy for the first time since 2017, so manager Erik ten Hag is expected to field a strong side. This will be the first of a two-leg fixture, with the eventual winner going on to Wembley to play for the League Cup.