3 Reasons why Arsenal lost to Manchester United | FA Cup 2018-19

An insipid Arsenal side found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 score-line as Manchester United progressed to the fifth Round of the FA Cup.

Arsenal started off the blocks quicker of the two and dominated the early exchanges. However, the Gunners failed to create anything substantial and were given a wake-up call in the 31st minute when Alexis Sanchez rounded Petr Cech to score into an unguarded net.

Yet, instead of rising from their slumber, the home side plunged deeper into their sleep as Jesse Lingard doubled the Red Devils’ lead within a matter of minutes.

Though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang handed the Gunners a lifeline before the break, Arsenal failed to capitalise on the head of steam they generated towards the end of the first period.

The away side looked a constant threat on the counter in the second half and killed the game off in the 82nd minute through their substitute, Anthony Martial.

The win at the Emirates made it eight wins out of eight for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer while the Gunners continued their patchy form with another low after the high of last weekend.

Here is a look at the factors that contributed to Arsenal losing out to Manchester United:

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#3 Manchester United’s clinical edge in front of goal

Sanchez opened the scoring at his old stomping ground

Manchester United arrived at the Emirates full of confidence having won their previous seven games across all competitions. And on Friday evening, they added another feather to their cap with a victory away to Arsenal.

For a majority of the game, the Red Devils were pinned back in their own half and enjoyed only 37 percent of the possession. Yet, when the big moments arrived, the visitors grabbed them with both hands and eventually made the difference.

Just after the half-hour mark, Sanchez was slipped through adroitly by Romelu Lukaku. The Chilean coolly dribbled past Cech before finishing from an acute angle. A couple of minutes later, Lingard produced an equally composed finish as he expertly passed the ball into the bottom corner.

Throughout the game, United only had four shots on goal and made the net bulge on three occasions. Thus, highlighting the difference between Arsenal and the away side’s endeavours on the night.

The Red Devils have enjoyed a new lease of life under Solskjaer and finally look equipped to deliver on the vast potential in their squad.

And if they keep finishing off chances like today, one wouldn’t bet against them going all the way in the FA Cup.

#2 Arsenal's defensive shortcomings rear their ugly heads, again

Arsenal failed to answer its defensive questions

Over a better part of the last decade, Arsenal’s banana skin has been its susceptibility to the counter-attack. Arsene Wenger endured sleepless nights trying to correct the issue but to no avail. Even though the initial signs were promising under his successor, more recently, Arsenal has shown the frailties of old.

Against Manchester United, Arsenal conceded three goals and at least a couple of them were a classic example of getting hit by the ‘sucker punch’.

For Lingard’s goal, Luke Shaw was accorded a free run in the middle of the park and the Englishman sharply picked out Lukaku who was in acres of space on the right. The Belgian carried the ball up-field superbly before teeing up Lingard.

With regards to Martial’s goal, the Gunners were all at sea as Pogba strode through the heart of midfield before unleashing a fierce shot. The shot then fell kindly to the former, who had absolutely no one in his vicinity as he made the net ripple.

For far too long, Arsenal has been too open at the back and that propensity is showing no signs of ameliorating itself.

Unai Emery’s Arsenal was supposed to be the dawn of a new era with increased defensive solidity. Yet, each passing game is bringing back the chants of ‘Same Old Arsenal’.

Though the Gunners have been hit hard by injuries, a mechanism surely needs to be worked out to lend greater strength to the rear-guard.

With the Gooners a notoriously impatient bunch, the Spanish boss needs to iron out the flaw instantly or he might just not be left with too many defences, both literally and figuratively.

#1 Arsenal fail to make the most of possession

Arsenal's creative talents had a bad day at the office

Last weekend, Arsenal produced arguably their best performance of the season as they swept aside Chelsea at the Emirates. On that evening, the Gunners ceded possession to their West London counterparts and struck back whenever the opportunity presented itself.

However, on Friday, the roles were reversed as the Gunners were mercilessly punished by Manchester United on the break.

Over the course of the game, Arsenal enjoyed 63 percent of possession. Despite hogging the ball for long periods of the game, the home side never conjured the clear-cut chances it is capable of.

Apart from a splendid save from Aaron Ramsey, Sergio Romero was untroubled throughout. The Gunners got into good attacking positions yet were unable to muster anything worthwhile on goal.

The left side was a constant hub for Arsenal’s attack but like many a time before, Sead Kolasinac and Alex Iwobi failed to come up with the killer ball.

Moreover, the threat of Ramsey was nullified as the game went on. In addition, Arsenal’s famed front two were uncharacteristically subdued and failed to hit the heights we have become accustomed to.

A major criticism aimed at Arsene’s Arsenal was the lack of an end product despite dominating the ball. Yet, a more direct route to goal under Emery seemed to silence those doubters.

However, with the toothless display on Friday following close on the heels of a similarly uninspired performance against West Ham, Emery needs to pull out all the stops to ensure it only remains an aberration and falls short of becoming a worrying pattern.