'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United welcomed Arsenal as Wenger made his last trip to Old Trafford as Gunners boss.
Arsenal made a plethora of changes as the 20-year-old Greece centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos made his debut. There was only one change for Manchester United as Victor Lindelof played in the place of injured Phil Jones.
Paul Pogba opened the scoring but Henrikh Mkhitaryan made in 1-1 in the 51st minute. It looked like a certain draw until Fellaini sealed the game for Manchester United with a 91st-minute header.
Without much ado, let's take a look at the 2 things that went right and the 1 thing that went wrong for Manchester United.
#3 Introduction of Fellaini ahead of Mata made the difference
As the game wore on, Arsenal players sat back and defended in numbers. They gave no space to United attacking players and made it really tough for United to get into the box.
Having lost Romelu Lukaku to injury, Jose Mourinho introduced Marouane Fellaini in the 64th minute. When everyone thought Mourinho would introduce Mata to break down Arsenal's stubborn defense, he thought otherwise.
With a target man to aim at, United made cross after cross into the box in an effort to find the winner. Fellaini almost won the game in the 89th minute when his header flashed onto the post. United’s persistence paid off as Fellaini finally got his header spot on. He won the game in the 92nd minute with a brilliant header from an Ashley Young cross.
#2 Injury to Romelu Lukaku
When most of the things went right for the Red Devils, something that Mourinho did not wish to see happened.
Lukaku once again had a good game Manchester United. He held the ball well up front and allowed his teammates to get into attacking positions. He made some excellent forward runs and was working hard. He created United’s first goal with a sublime cross to Alexis Sanchez, whose header fell to Paul Pogba and the Frenchman finished it from close range.
However, his night was cut short as Mavropanos tackle struck him flush on the right angle. He lasted only a few minutes in the second-half and was replaced by Marcus Rashford. Without him, Manchester United lacked a target man up front and struggled to create meaningful chances.
#1 Mourinho’s tried and tested methods worked in the end
After all the constant passing, attacking runs, and one-two’s in the final third, United failed to score the decisive goal in the second half. Marcus Rashford was not at his best and Antony Martial could not influence the game.
Mourinho reverted to his tried and tested strategy in the last 10 minutes. Crosses kept coming from either side and Young, in particular, made some good ones from the left. Fellaini was the intended target and Arsenal defenders did well until the 91st minute.
When everyone thought it was going to be a 1-1 draw, Fellaini had other ideas. Fellaini scored a trademark Mourinho style goal in the 91st minute to end the game 2-1 in the favour of Manchester United.
