Arsenal Shoot Themselves In The Foot To Give Michael Carrick A Farewell Gift

Manchester United 3 Arsenal 2  
Premier League  
Thursday 2nd December 2021  8.15pm   

Whether you were leave or remain, one thing that Brexit was responsible for was that the new manager bounce did not play a part in last night’s visit to a chilly Old Trafford. So no Ralf Rangnick directed 'gegenpressing', although the two results under Michael Carrick's watch before the visit of Arsenal were more than respectable.

Mikel Arteta rested Saka and Lokonga, bringing in Martinelli and Elneny. Saka certainly needs to be given the odd game off, as will Smith Rowe, and Martinelli deserved a chance after recent displays from the bench. Elneny’s presence exposes the lack of squad depth in central midfield, and his name on the team sheet struck fear into this writer’s heart. In fairness to the Egyptian, he’s had worse games and did not stand out as a particularly weak link.

Arsenal started very well, although when they took the lead it was a real curate’s egg of a goal. When keepers are injured, even challenged, they generally receive the protection of the referee’s whistle, and one imagines the reason David de Gea didn’t move after hitting the deck was that he was waiting for it. I am uncertain Emile Smith Rowe was even aware that the keeper wasn’t on his feet when he took his shot after the corner had been cleared. The ball entered the net and the referee then went to see what the problem was with de Gea. 

The replays showed us that his own team-mate Fred had stepped on his foot – and this may well have been painful. I am far from certain though that it was enough to stop the keeper getting back on his feet and saving the shot that followed. If de Gea was that badly hurt, he’d have been substituted. It was the necessity to make out that the injury was serious that prevented him getting up very quickly once the physio was on the pitch. The glory of VAR was that it gave referee Martin Atkinson the freedom to let play continue until the ball was dead or in a place where his blowing the whistle would not penalize the attacking team. Had they not won the game, you can be sure United would have bemoaned Arsenal’s lack of sportsmanship, probably suggesting the visitors should have allowed them to walk the ball into the net after the award of the goal. But ultimately, the keeper was injured by his own man, pretended he could not continue on the incorrect assumption the whistle would be blown, and Arsenal scored a perfectly legal goal when the referee decided to play by the rules, as it was not a head injury. As the TV pundits reminded us, play to the whistle.

So that felt good, and although Martinelli had a decent chance to double the lead afterwards, the remainder of the first half wasn’t so pretty from an Arsenal perspective, as they retreated into a ‘we hold what he have’ mode and sat back. It was inviting trouble. They almost made it to half time, but Ben White made a poor clearance when he had more time than he realised, and presented the ball straight back to United. It wasn’t the worst of errors, as the ball was some distance from goal and all the players were in defensive positions. What followed was simply good football from the home side and Fernandes was picked out to apply the finishing touch.

After the interval, it was a tale of more substantial individual errors that cost Arsenal. Tavares was sloppy near the halfway line, with acres of space behind him. When possession was lost, the ball found its way to Ronaldo in front of goal, and he put his side ahead with a first time strike. A cheap goal to give away. If Tavares was out of position as a result of his team being in possession, the question is who should have been covering Marcus Rashford in the left back position. Gabriel? Elneny? Probably the latter, but this is one for Arteta to determine and correct. I am not saying Lokonga or Xhaka would have done any better, but the when the ball is turned over, Arsenal have to be more mindful of attacking players in acres of space. 

It wasn’t all bad though – Arteta’s players showed some fight and spirit and their equalizer in the 54th minute was a well worked move, White finding Martinelli in space wide right, and the Brazilian presenting the ball to Odegaard to finish sweetly. However, the Norwegian undid his good work with an ill-thought challenge six minutes later that, after a VAR check, was correctly awarded as a penalty. Ronaldo predictably stepped up and scored the winning goal. 

Arteta switched Saka for Smith Rowe, then later Nketiah and Lacaette for Aubameyang and Odegaard. The Arsenal captain did have a couple of chances, but his poor form continues. The best chance would probably have been given offside, but he didn’t know that at the time and you expect him to finish those. Although, of course, lately, that faith has been dissolving. Centre forward is becoming a problem position.

Doktor Schneide messaged his warped words of wisdom at the end of the game…
In the - kind of - words of John Lennon, do you think we’ve given PEAs enough chance?
The groans to that one were on a par with how I felt at the full-time whistle. 

Arsenal did have a go in the half hour they had to score a third, with not only Aubameyang having chances. Saka had a couple of efforts too. So fair play to them at least making a fist of it, but ultimately, this was a fragile United side, there for the taking. Individual errors cost heavily. 

Arteta’s team remain fifth, although with both Spurs and United sitting ominously behind them. Confidence at Everton is low - eight matches without a win - and with the Gunners’ next fixture a visit to Goodison Park on Monday evening, they really need to take full advantage of that and go for a win. The games that follow that one present the opportunity to rack up some much needed points and ideally give Aubameyang the chance to rediscover his finishing touch. With 18 months left on his contract, I would be amazed if there were not already a list of possible targets for a new striker next summer.

The team, overall, are not scoring enough, although last night, two should have been sufficient to win all three points, even if United were unhappy about the way one of them was scored. The defence has put in a lot of good performances since Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White and Gabriel have been starting, but the trips to Anfield and Old Trafford provide lessons as to where improvements need to be worked upon. And if Arsenal are to secure Arsene Wenger’s infamous fourth place trophy, defensive errors like last night’s need to become a thing of distant memory.

A final word on Michael Carrick. I have no idea what his compensation package would have been had he waited for United to pay him off, on the assumption that  Ralf Rangnick will be shaking things up once he moves into the manager’s office. Still, the former Spurs player does not come across as the type to have a collection of flash cars and presumably has more than enough money to allow him to live in comfort for the rest of his days. And of course, there are always other jobs in football. In honesty though, there aren’t many at clubs as big as United. Perhaps he thinks that leaving on a positive note, not making the club pay him off, will make it easier to return in a less high profile role further on down the line. He doesn't seem to enjoy the spotlight too much, and if he doesn’t need the pay-off, then fair play to him for departing in this manner. It’s just unfortunate for Arsenal he went out on a high. I recall United presented Arsene Wenger with a gift at his final Manchester United v Arsenal game. It felt a bit like the Gunners unwittingly reciprocated for Carrick last night.

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