Manchester United fell to their first defeat under Ruben Amorim, after losing 2-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in our midweek meeting.
It’s been a mixed bag of results under the Portuguese head coach so far, as a point at Portman Road against Ipswich was succeded by back-to-back Old Trafford victories over Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League and Everton in the Premier League. However, our midweek meeting with the Gunners ultimately saw us lose in London.
EYE Opening team selection
Andre Onana was chosen between the sticks once again, behind Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, who replaced Lisandro Martinez in United’s backline. Bruno Fernandes dropped a bit deeper, accompanied by Manuel Ugarte with Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro making way from the victory over Everton.
Diogo Dalot kept his place in the midfield quartet, but moved to the right-hand side as Tyrell Malacia replaced Amad Diallo on the left. A brand-new front three saw Mason Mount and Alejandro Garnacho support Rasmus Hojlund, despite Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford both bagging braces against the Toffees.
DeVOID OF REAL QUALITY
Thomas Partey passed up a glorious early opportunity for the hosts, shouldering Declan Rice’s inswinging corner wide from inside the six-yard box. This chance on seven minutes was essentially a warning for how this contest in the capital would play out.
Gabriel Martinelli was next to try his luck for the Gunners as a result of a set-piece. Bukayo Saka took this corner from the other side, another inswinger, which Oleksandr Zinchenko did well to chest down after Andre Onana’s punch clear. The Ukrainian’s effort was blocked but fell into the Arsenal winger’s path but thankfully the Brazilian ballooned his effort over the bar.
There was a real lack of opportunities from open play, as United’s best chance of the first 45 came four minutes from time as Mason Mount took a free-kick after Alejandro Garnacho was fouled by Jurrien Timber. Harry Maguire headed on, looking for Rasmus Hojlund, before Declan Rice cleared.
It came back to Mount, eager to make an impression, but his shot turned into a great pass for Maguire out on the right flank again. Arsenal failed to clear their lines, with the ball bouncing around in the box, before it broke for Diogo Dalot who fired across the face of goal but out for a Gunners goal-kick.
Set-Piece specialists
However, less than ten minutes of the second period played, it wasn’t long into the second half before United fell behind. Declan Rice’s effort at the edge of the area, after cutbacks from Jurrien Timber and Martin Ødegaard, was blocked for a corner-kick which he himself would take.
Another in-swinger was headed home by Jurrien Timber just a few yards out, as the Dutch defender nodded the hosts in front on 54 minutes.
We didn’t create a heck of a lot, with our best opportunities coming from free-kicks. Bruno Fernandes looked to tee up Matthijs de Light but he failed to do what his compatriot Timber had done for Arsenal, although did force a solid stop from David Raya in the Gunners’ goal.
For a side that are seemingly challenging for the Premier League title, Arsenal didn’t carve out many opportunities from open play. But set-pieces proved the difference as, on 73 minutes, they doubled their lead. Bukayo Saka’s deep corner to the far post was sent back across goal by Thomas Partey and the ball ricochets off William Saliba’s backside and into the United net.
Kai Havertz would be denied a third, forcing Onana into a save at his near post, but it was a game of few chances with corner-kicks proving United’s achilles heel and the main weapon in the Gunners’ arsenal.
Player Ratings & MOTM
Andre Onana – 7 & MOTM Four saves on the night, not at fault for either goal, and United had him to thank for not losing by more.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5 Completed the most passes of any player in the match, but only won a few duels and is filling in to a position that ultimately isn’t his.
Matthijs De Ligt – 7 Mustered one of only two shots that United recorded on target, won both his ground and aerial duels and appears to be growing in confidence.
Harry Maguire – 6 Most accurate passer to play 90 mins or more, won all his tackles and all his ground duels.
Diogo Dalot – 6 Could’ve, and maybe should’ve, fired United in front on 41 mins. Much more comfortable on the right than the left-hand side.
Manuel Ugarte – 6 Won the most duels in the entire game (9), passed it well and got stuck in.
Bruno Fernandes – 6 United’s biggest creative influence when played further forward, must start as one of the duo in support of a lone striker. Neat free-kick routine to set up Antony off the bench but ineffective for the most part.
Tyrell Malacia – 6 Hooked for the much more dangerous Diallo on 46 mins despite doing not too badly.
Mason Mount – 5 Was keen to make an impression but ultimately failed to do so.
Alejandro Garnacho – 5 Similar to Mount, but more interested in throwing himself to the floor than conjuring and creating any opportunities.
Hojlund – 5 Starved of service, failed to threaten David Raya after arguably being at fault for the opener. Didn’t grab his opportunity after Zirkzee’s brace last weekend.
Subs:
Amad Diallo – 5 – Impressed against Everton from the start and arguably his shirt to lose, but didn’t display the same magic in midweek.
Lenny Yoro – 6 Nice to see him come on and make his long-awaited United debut; looked solid.
Joshua Zirkzee – 5 Just like his predecessor Hojlund, was feeding off scraps.
Marcus Rashford – 5 Poor considering he looked back to his best after his Everton display.
Antony – 6 Passed up arguably United’s best chance with a tidy Fernandes free-kick, but ultimately to no avail.
Looking forward
The fixtures come thick and fast in the festive period, but United will be hoping to hand Nottingham Forest a second successive Premier League defeat in Manchester, after they lost 3-0 in midweek to Manchester City at the Etihad.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sit sixth in the Premier League table, three points clear of United, so we could move level on points with the weekend’s visitors as we aim to ascend the Premier League table.
The last meeting between the two teams was in the FA Cup fifth round at the City Ground, as Casemiro’s sole goal proved the difference en route to United winning the trophy. However, we lost our last league match with Forest 2-1 in Nottingham, but beat them at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.
