Gunners’ spirit and belief shines through to overcome form horses United

Arsenal 3 Manchester United 2   
Premier League   
Sunday 22nd January 2023 4.30pm   

Phew! For neutrals, it was a thriller. For Gooners, it was a rollercoaster and the entertainment factor was secondary. However, there is no denying the win at home to a resurgent Manchester United side was dramatic, and hopefully it will prove as significant in time. The victories over Spurs and now United mean that, in matches against the other so-called top six sides this season, Arsenal’s record is more impressive than we have seen for a long time. Played 6, won 5, lost 1. Three home, three away. 15 points from 18 is a real achievement. Half the season has been played now. Seven points in total have been dropped, with 50 in the bag. People understandably talk about Arsenal as potential champions, although this observer feels the one thing that has come out of the season so far is that it would take an unforeseen calamity for the club not to be in next season’s Champions League. The fifth place team (Spurs) are 17 points behind and have played a game more. 

As for the title. We can hope. Let’s see what happens in the remainder of the transfer window and then pray on the fitness and energy levels of the players that have performed wonderfully so far. Squad depth is the one area where there are valid questions about Mikel Arteta’s side, but the purchase of a player like Leandro Trossard is very much a move in the right direction. We await to see how good Jakub Kiwior turns out to be, but the crucial thing is that the club are at least attempting to improve the quality of the options available. Football is now a 16-man game, so ideally you want 16 players good enough to start matches, meaning no drop in quality when players are switched. 

Yesterday’s match was a tale of Arsenal dominating possession and territory, with the visitors making efficient use of the opportunities that came their way. The home side were worthy of the late win, but had to work for it. There are lessons that can be taken from this game in the concession of the two goals, but in attack the Gunners compensated. Key to their win was the half time switch at right back as Tomiyasu came on for Ben White. The latter had not had the best of halves, and did not contribute as much going forward as we have become accustomed to. His replacement did better and might have played his way back into the starting eleven on this performance. 

United competed with greater intensity than Spurs did a week earlier in the opening 45 minutes, cutting down Arsenal’s options and forcing more errors. At times, the home side’s play was sloppy, with Thomas Partey uncharacteristically careless more than once. Erik ten Haag’s side took the lead thanks to Marcus Rashford as he was allowed time and space to get a low shot in from distance. Saka and Partey made errors in possession to give United the ball. Credit thought to Eddie Nketiah for doing what he was picked for in this game and scoring twice. His equalizing header from an excellent Xhaka cross was a classic centre forward’s goal at the end of a very nice passage of play. And of course, he got a touch on an Odegaard effort which may or may not have gone in, to win the game. It was a toss up for Arsenal’s best player between Saka – always a threat - and Zinchenko, who was involved all over the pitch and delivered the ball to Odegaard that led to that winning goal in the 90th minute.

Saka made it 2-1 in the second half with what has become a trademark goal. It reminds me a bit of Lionel Messi in the way he shuffles the ball across the edge of the area waiting for the moment to unleash a low left foot effort. He had a second attempt later that got the slightest deflection off Christian Eriksen, meaning it hit the post rather than making it 3-1. United had equalized when Ramsdale made a hash of a corner, failing to punch the ball and seeing it headed back past him. Yes, one of his own players was also challenging for the ball, but it all looked very untidy and might have cost two points. As it was, Arsenal’s pressure to score the winner paid off, and it’s a valid question to ask whether United’s midweek trip to Selhurst Park played a part in that. In the closing stages, Arteta’s team seemed to have total control and were able to find space so much easier than in the first half. 

When the decisive goal came, it couldn't be fully celebrated until VAR had confirmed there was no offside against either Zinchenko or Nketiah – and it looked as close as it turned out to be. Fortunately, the two players stayed the right side of the lines on the screen and the goal stood. New signing Trossard came on for Martinelli with less than 10 minutes remaining but certainly made an impact, battling for the ball and keeping the attacking momentum up. I imagine he might start on Friday in the FA Cup and it will be interesting to see more of him in an Arsenal shirt. It was a win that will only further enhance the confidence of the players, not only because of who they beat – very much a form team – but also the manner in which they did it. Coming back from behind and then restoring their advantage after being pulled back to 2-2. 

Sixteen wins from 19 matches is a stunning platform on which to build. Yes, in previous seasons, other sides have gained even more points at this stage, and perhaps this might offer a rare opportunity to win the title with less points than the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool have accumulated in recent years. But there can be no let up, and of course, the matches against Pep Guardiola’s team could determine everything. But Arsenal are doing more than they can and exceeding expectations. Long may it continue. They say football moves in cycles. Liverpool and Chelsea seem to be struggling. It feels like the top four might just have a very different look this season. It’s certainly feels like a long wait since a genuine Arsenal title challenge, so bring it on.

One other thing. An omen if you like. 1997-98. Arsenal 3 Manchester United 2. A late, late winner from David Platt. You know what followed. Here are the highlights for younger readers… 

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