Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 Premier League win over Manchester United at a wet Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, continuing to build momentum after an impressive return to form.
For United, it was new head coach Ruben Amorim’s first defeat in his fourth game in charge, and raised fresh questions for the Portuguese as he faced the job at hand.
The Gunners were probably the better side on the balance of play, but it took a set piece and Jurrien Timber’s header early in the second half to finally take the lead. Once the tie was broken and Mikel Arteta’s side discovered the chaos they could cause from the dead ball situation, things were a little simpler and a second goal came from a set piece from William Saliba.
How the game developed
Arsenal had the ball in the net minutes after the opening kick-off, Andre Onana’s misplaced pass being collected by Oleksandr Zinchenko. But when Kai Havertz cushioned the ball into the path of Gabriel Martinelli, the German striker was in an offside position. The Gunners soon had another glorious one when Thomas Partey misjudged a header just yards from goal; instead, he hit her shoulder.
Although United struggled in Amorim’s new system against Ipswich Town and Bodo/Glimt, the visitors were quite solid defensively. Martinelli had a chance when he curled a left-footed shot wide after a corner, with Arsenal unable to make the dominance count.
The Gunners wanted a penalty when a driven cross hit Harry Maguire’s stomach, maybe his arm too, but the referee didn’t budge and neither did the VAR officials.
United had offered nothing until the end of the half when Diogo Dalot curled an effort wide after Maguire’s deflected cut-back fell kindly to him.
A similar pattern continued as the second half began, United closing ranks on Arsenal in the final third. When a decent chance presented itself to the Gunners, Mason Mount was there to deflect close friend Declan Rice’s shot over the bar.
Finally, Arsenal’s strength in set pieces made the breakthrough. Rice hit a dangerous corner towards the near post and it was Timber who got his head on the ball, making enough contact with the shot to take it past Ona. An almost identical corner from Rice just five minutes in was just a fraction of a second away, this time headed by United substitute Joshua Zirkzee.
United thought they had equalized with their header when Matthijs de Ligt had an effort on goal, only to see David Raya jump in his goal to clear the ball away from danger.
Then came Arsenal’s second killer. This time Bukayo Saka’s corner was flicked on to the far post where Partey was waiting to head back across the six-yard box. Little did Saliba know, the ball just hit his back and bounced into the net, but he deflected in jubilant celebration and the goal survived a VAR check for possible offside.
From the bench, Mikel Merino almost headed in a third corner, narrowly missing the target.
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The Gunners couldn’t find a way into a resolute United defense in open play, but set pieces have become a huge weapon for Arteta’s side.
Ultimately, it’s an advantage either way and that’s Arsenal. On another night, they could have had four goals from corners, both very similar deliveries to highlight the thoroughness with which set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has worked and polished.
Even with Gabriel sidelined through injury, others posed a threat and were the difference.
Part of Arsenal’s problem in open play is that Martin Odegaard was unable to play his usual game for United’s visiting midfield and defence. The Gunners captain was constantly caught out every time he received the ball, losing the space to pull the strings.
The Norwegian has been hugely influential in Arsenal’s recent burst of form since returning from injury – it’s no coincidence that they have struggled without him – but this was another indication of the limitations that can exist if he is not able to operate with his forces.
Credit for that on this occasion goes to Manchester United, although the defensive structure cost their own game. It took him 42 minutes to get his first shot on goal, on or off goal.
The three best players for United in the emphatic weekend win against Everton were Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford, and none of them started here.
As for Amad specifically, Amorim spoke after that game about building his fitness levels, which would explain not starting twice in four days. Zirkzee’s start against Everton was also down to that opposition’s particular strengths and weaknesses, with Arsenal clearly a more suitable opponent for Rasmus Hojlund in the head coach’s eyes.
Amorim replaced Tyrell Malacia, starting just his second first-team game in 19 months, at half-time and then made a triple substitution soon after going behind.
