Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference
Final Result: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal (Trossard 20′)
Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice, Partey (Kiwior 93′), Odegaard (Jorginho 93′); Saka (G. Jesus 82′), Havertz, Trossard (Martinelli 66′)
The last time Arsenal played Manchester United in the Premier League, it was a routine home win for the Gunners with two late goals from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus, but it was quite early in the season and destinies were still shaped. Fast forward to the penultimate game on the season, and it was Manchester United hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford, with the home side currently in the trenches, while the away team needed only one result to keep their Premier League title challenging hopes alive – a victory.
There was the added pressure of knowing that Manchester City absolutely destroyed Fulham a day before, and the much publicized goal difference between both rivals was cut down to just three goals, showing how one has to maintain a near perfect record and show vast amount of consistency when challenging the Sky Blues for the title. It’s no surprise that Liverpool gaffer, Jurgen Klopp, ran out of energy.
The game itself wasn’t as exciting as previous Arsenal encounters the fans have become accustomed to, but anyone watching the Gunners this season knows that Mikel Arteta opts for control, rather than flamboyance in such games, and it didn’t help that Arsenal had won only one of their last 16 encounters at Old Trafford.
The only goal itself, came from some brilliant work from Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard but a special shoutout has to go to Casemiro, who has turned out to be a sorry footballer this season, especially with Erik ten Hag’s brilliant decision to convert him to a center back. Yes, the injuries currently faced at Manchester United hasn’t helped, but you’d expect a defensive midfielder to at least deputize as a center back when the need arises. The way he lost his bearings to allow Havertz stay onside was hilarious, but the way he wasn’t aware of Trossard’s presence to latch unto Havertz’s pass was pathetic to say the least. It’s all fun and games to me, saying this as an Arsenal fan, but if I was a Manchester United faithful, I’d remove the hairs from my head watching my team concede such.
Manchester United had a couple of half chances with literally everything passing through Alejandro Garnacho, but he’s certainly no Bruno Fernandes. The much-maligned Andre Onana took center stage and made a couple of great saves, especially from Rice and Gabriel Martinelli, to keep the score line respectable. The ref’s whistle was like music to the ears of everyone connected with Arsenal, and we will head to the final game of the season with a potential chance of winning the club’s first Premier League title in 20 years.
It is also worth mentioning that this side has raked up 27 wins in the Premier League, which is more than the Immortal Invincibles side achieved in their record breaking title win in 2004. Mikel Arteta has an amazing team on his hands, and he has transformed them to genuine title challengers, which bodes well for the future. Arsenal has already surpassed last season’s goal scored record of 88 (currently on 89 goals), and we have conceded only 28 goals this season, compared to 43 in the last campaign.
All eyes will be at the Tottenham Stadium tomorrow, and we can only watch and hope for our arch-rivals to do us the mother of all favors by making the defending champions drop points. Their motivation may be affected by the proceedings of tonight’s clash between Aston Villa and Liverpool though, so let’s see how that pans out.
Sayonara.
Follow Gooner Daily on Twitter @goonerdaily.
Visit Gooner Daily’s Facebook page.
Click on the “Follow button” to join Gooner Daily’s Mailing List
