MANCHESTER, England – With about five minutes left in normal time on Sunday, a flash of lightning followed by a loud clap of thunder echoed through Old Trafford. Arsenal are used to dark clouds gathering in the red half of Manchester, a record of one win in their last 16 visits to the Premier League underlining the submissive nature of so many trips here.
However, Sunday's 1-0 win once again underlined how far they have come under Mikel Arteta. Previous Gunners teams would have found a way to drop points here.
The obvious comparison is February 2016, the year then-unknown teenager Marcus Rashford made his Premier League debut as a striker in an injury-ravaged team that included inexperienced defender Guillermo Varela at right-back and an aging midfielder at centre-back. Like Michael Carrick. . Somehow United won 3-2 and Arsenal's title hopes were dented. Even last season, Arsenal were flying unbeaten at the top of the table when they were beaten 3-1 by United in a match the Gunners dominated for long periods, only to be beaten on the counterattack.
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Here, the Gunners had to win to keep their title challenge on track and United's line-up offered palpable encouragement with Casemiro and Jonny Evans at centre-back, Sofyan Amrabat in midfield and winger Amad Diallo making his first start in the league in three years.
Arteta admitted before this match that Arsenal's checkered history in this match weighed on his mind in the build-up and, perhaps informed by a combination of that, the counter-attack threat and United's current difficulties, they were much more passive than usual here.
“Today we had to play in a really special place. Our history was not very optimistic about what could happen, but we found a way to win it,” Arteta said. “That says a lot about how much the team loves him.”
Arsenal has gone the entire Premier League season without losing to any team from the 'Big Six' 👏 pic.twitter.com/oVvYnWDeOz
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 12, 2024
Casemiro once again reminded the world why he is not a centre-back and took a while to join the rest of his defensive line at the top of the pitch. In doing so, he played with Kai Havertz as Arsenal won the ball back and then failed to close the gap at André Onana's near post when Leandro Trossard stole in to score what turned out to be the only goal of the game after 20 minutes.
The Gunners' conservatism was unintentional. “We started playing too safe, without respecting any structure and without sufficient purpose,” Arteta said. “I didn't like it and we had to change it, but it was difficult for us to do so. If you don't have that element to be more dominant and more present in the game, you have to be extraordinarily competitive and do things well defensively.” . “I thought we were excellent at that.”
Perhaps the legs felt heavy because of what was at stake; That is the most likely explanation than that of the rival, given that the United players did not have the confidence or the quality to use the ball. They finished with 54.1% possession, but only two shots on goal and an expected goals figure of just 0.55.
At least Alejandro Garnacho tried. Diallo faded badly after a brilliant opening half-hour, as Rasmus Hojlund battled for space inside the back pocket. William Saliba and Gabriel have been fielding forwards all season.
United were missing Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez, to name just three first-team players, and Arsenal probably took advantage of this more than necessary, forcing Onana into three clever late saves only when the match became a bit more complicated. stretched.
Maybe they were stunned by how bad United were. After all, there are now 32 points between these two teams who once contested a duopoly at the top of English football.
Regardless, Arsenal's victory here continues a pattern of establishing themselves as a lasting force in the biggest games. They will finish the season unbeaten in games against the traditional Big Six: a record of six wins and four draws in 10 games against Manchester City, Liverpool, United, Chelsea and Tottenham.
The registrations keep coming. A total of 28 wins and 89 goals are Premier League highs for Arsenal. If they fall short, they won't have thrown it away. City will have won it.
The Gunners have reached the final day of the season no matter what, maintaining their challenge in a way they were unable to produce last year. The bitter irony that their north London rivals, Tottenham, are now the key to their destiny is not lost on anyone.
City travel to Spurs on Tuesday for the remaining match and are now looking to overturn a two-point deficit.
“I'm going to be the biggest Tottenham fan of all time,” Havertz told Sky Sports. “Let's hope for the best.”
Arteta referenced Arsenal's narrow 3-2 win at City last month, adding: “We know we need it. They are a really difficult team to play against. We suffered from that a few weeks ago when we played against them. So Hopefully, they can do it.” “My experience in this league is that any team can beat any team. I experienced several scenarios on the last day when many teams have needs. The margin of respect that everyone puts in the games is phenomenal.
“We need to do our thing even in the last game. But today we wanted to open that box of dreams to live the last day of the season in front of our people with the opportunity to win the Premier League.”
The storm intensified shortly after the final whistle, shaking the roof of the Sir Bobby Charlton stand that housed the joyful traveling Gunners, who spent much of the afternoon singing about how they “won the league at Old Trafford”, referring to a 1-0 victory. for this reason in 2002.
They could have lost him today, but they didn't. Whatever happens next week, it looks like progress.
