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Manchester United travelled to the Emirates to face Arsenal on Sunday in a crunch tie that was followed closely by their rivals for various reasons. 3 points would have sent Emery's men into the 4th position in the league. A victory for Solskjaer would have meant some breathing space and the Norwegian named his team accordingly.
The biggest relief was the return of Nemanja Matic in the team, while Martial was on the bench. United started with De Gea in goal, with a back four of Young, Smalling, Lindelof and Shaw. Matic, Fred and Pogba, made up the midfield, while Dalot started alongside Rashford and Lukaku in the attack.
Arsenal started the game stronger of the two and took the lead through Xhaka in the 12th minute. Even though United tried their best, they failed to muster up an equalizer.
In the second half, Aubameyang scored from the spot to give the home team a 2-goal advantage and inflicted upon Solskjaer, his first defeat in the Premier League as a United manager. Here are 5 talking points from the game.
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#5 United were unlucky with the goals conceded
Manchester United were a goal down as early as the 12th minute. Xhaka was afforded a lot of room on the edge of the penalty area and the Swiss International unleashed a venomous shot that seemed to swerve in the air.
De Gea, however, seemed to have wrongly anticipated the direction of the hit and was embarrassingly wrong-footed as the ball hit the back of the net. It was a bolt from the blue that shook United, who had to chase the game from the early stages.
In the second half, United grew in stature and pegged the home team back. The away side looked like scoring every time they went forward. However, Arsenal scored against the run of the play.
Fred was guilty of pushing Lacazette in the penalty box and Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the 69th minute. Replays suggested the decision was a soft one, however, Aubameyang stepped up, scored from the spot and sealed the game for Arsenal.
#4 Arsenal took their chances well
The Gunners looked the better side in the opening stages, as they pushed United back. They had the control over the midfield, while United looked lost. It was within that span that they took the lead through a Xhaka shot that caught De Gea horrible wrong-footed.
Arsenal took the lead but lost control of the game in the next few minutes. They ended the first half with lesser shots on goal and started the second half in the same note. Yet the penalty changed the game in an instant.
Aubameyang scored from Arsenal’s first and only shot on target in the second half, underlying how clinical the home team had been on the night. They had taken their chances well and had a degree of efficiency about their performance in the second half.
In the end, it was their ability to make the best use of the little chances they had that helped them win the game.
#3 Missed opportunities cost United
After evading defeat in the Premier League for almost 3 months, Solskjaer’s United were finally defeated in the League by Arsenal. However, it would have been a very different game had United taken all their chances well.
United stuck the frame of the goal twice in the first half, from Lukaku and Fred. The Belgian, in particular, was guilty of missing easy opportunities in the game. He hit the crossbar with the goal and Leno at his mercy from a yard out.
He was then sent through on goal by a good ball from Rashford, however, Lukaku, after rounding off the keeper, failed to score.
The Belgian also had a great opportunity in the second half, once again with only Leno to beat, but could not capitalize. All the forward players failed to click on the night and United had to pay the price.
The inability of Solskjaer’s men to convert the chances that came to them cost them the game.
#2 Substitutions did not work for Solskjaer
The Norwegian did have Martial on the bench and when the opportunity presented itself, Solskjaer opted to bring on the Frenchman to influence the game. However, Martial’s entry seemed to unsettle the United attack. Rashford had to shift to the right side to accommodate the Frenchman and it ruined the Englishman’s game.
Solskjaer also brought on a young Mason Greenwood for the last 10 minutes of the game. The youngster has been in prolific form for the youth side and the Norwegian was hoping that he could replicate some of that form and salvage at least a point for United.
However, Greenwood ended up playing on the wings, further away from the goal and had very little influence.
In a game where United failed to find a breakthrough, none of Solskjaer’s substitutes worked. However, it was a learning experience for the Norwegian, who should come back stronger.
#1 This is not the end for United
Solskjaer’s first defeat in the Premier League as the United manager comes at a crucial time for his team. United had won 9 consecutive away games since his appointment and were coming into the game after a fantastic comeback win over Paris in midweek.
It looked like the Gunners would have a hard night out, but in truth, it turned out to be a reality check for Solskjaer’s men.
If there was any complacency in the team, those were washed out after United failed to capitalize on a weekend where both Spurs and Chelsea slipped. The defeat to Arsenal also sees them fall down to 5th right now, while Chelsea, with a win in the game in hand, could push United further down to 6th.
However, now is not the time to fret. The top four race is far from over and perhaps, this loss to Arsenal was just the heads up United needed right now. This loss will have the United team grounded and could help galvanize the team.
