Fixtures between Manchester United and Arsenal are always highly anticipated affairs but the reality of tonight’s game could not have been further from expectations especially since Arsene Wenger and Mourinho were facing off against each other yet again. Instead of a lively encounter, what we got was a display in pragmatism from both sides.
Manchester United were clearly the better side whereas the Gunners looked like the international break had taken quite a toll on them. Alexis Sanchez was a surprise inclusion in the teamsheet after rumours of an injury and he did start with plenty of reinforcements around his hamstring. Manchester United. meanwhile were missing their star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic but it hardly seemed to bother the Red Devils.
The deadlock between the two sides was broken in the second half as Juan Mata found himself in a bit of space and gave his team the lead with a good strike. But just as Mourinho parked his metaphorical bus, Arsenal substitutes Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain combined to give the Gunners an equaliser.
Thus, Arsenal scored a goal against a Mourinho team after nine years and United suffered their third consecutive home draw. Here are the five major talking points from the game:
#1 United coped well without Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s absence from the United line-up may not have been quite the tragedy that it would have seemed at first sight. While the Swedish forward’s skills are undoubtedly outstanding, his advancing years aren’t the most conducive to the Premier League. After all, he is 35 years old and he was never a particularly hard working striker even in his younger days. His refusal to put pressure on the opposition and spread himself around has often been a huge problem for Mourinho’s side and today, finally, they were free of it.
United looked energetic and determined from kick off and spread themselves around effectively. They were eager to press and win the ball back and even though Rashford played more in the wings than centrally, the Red Devils actually looked like they had it together for a change. They moved the ball well and more important, quickly instead of resorting to their ‘long ball’ approach.
#2 Were Arsenal tired or were they scared?
Arsene Wenger risked the well-being of Alexis Sanchez for the game but he might as well have not bothered. The kind of link up play and flair that has been emblematic of Arsenal so far this season was starkly absent and the likes of Sanchez, Ozil and Walcott saw very little of the ball. Sanchez pulled off a beautiful turn and Ozil nutmegged Carrick but if that was enough to win a game, football would have been a completely different game.
Instead, the attackers were subdued and with all due respect to them, Jones, Valencia and Rojo were far better. Wenger might argue that his players were tired (although that’s one of Mourinho’s favourite complaints), but the way the Gunners started seemed to indicate they were playing it safe. Old Trafford isn’t a favourite hunting ground for Arsenal and they may have seen the wisdom in walking away with a point rather than going for the kill.
#3 The penalty (?)
There was no sign of the kind of controversy that is usually a part and parcel of a meeting between Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho but that doesn’t mean the Portuguese manager didn’t make a meal of it when his team’s appeal for a penalty went ignored. What pretty much happened was, Nacho Monreal put his arm out while jostling for the ball with Antonio Valencia inside the box and the United full back went down.
While United players, supporters and especially their manager saw a foul, the north London club saw a dive. However, referee Andre Marriner saw neither and waved the incident off as if it was nothing. After all, to the indifferent observer it did look like Valencia went down too easily although neither did it look like simulation on the right back’s behalf.
However, United players will look upon the incident with more animosity as the potential penalty could have given them all three points instead of just the one.
#4 Mourinho’s choice of defenders
When United announced their line-up for the game, the prolific Arsenal midfielders must have relished the chance to go up against Marcus Rojo and Phil Jones. The two aren’t the most reliable and Mourinho himself said a few weeks ago he didn’t remember the last time Jones had a good game. In spite of all the misgivings surrounding the two men, they weren’t bad at all.
It must have been quite surprising to Ozil and Sanchez that they couldn’t get past the United men and it seemed like the Red Devils were going home with a clean sheet and full points to their name. Strangely enough, it wasn’t until Mourinho made all his defensive changes after going up that United conceded. He changed the dynamics which had been holding up so well and Arsenal took apart their hope of a victory with a cross and a head.
#5 Arsenal’s super subs
Olivier Giroud may have fallen out of favour as Arsenal’s main striker but he’s been doing pretty well as a substitute. After the Gunners were a goal behind, Wenger dipped into his kitty and pulled out Giroud and Oxlade and his choice was vindicated as the men came together to pull off some simple yet effective play. Oxlade did well to utilise the space afforded to him on the flanks and sent a near-perfect cross into the United box.
Giroud, in many ways a traditional centre-forward, rose without a care to head the ball in past David De Gea who was pretty much forced into action for the first time tonight. Arsenal had so far failed to bother the Spanish keeper and all it took was one attempt to beat him.
In a match that was dominated by the home side, United can only blame themselves for letting Arsenal get away with a point.
