Mikel Arteta’s side have just one game left this season as Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Leandro Trossard scored the all-important goal from close range following a pass from Kai Havertz. It now means the title race goes into the final day with Manchester City – one point behind Arsenal on 85 – playing Tottenham on Tuesday.
United, on the other hand, are in eighth place with 54 points behind Chelsea and Newcastle United with two games remaining.
Carl Anka, James McNicholas and Liam Tarme break down the key talking points from the game…
Trossard comes out when needed…again
Neither Gabriel Jesus nor Gabriel Martinelli were as effective in front of goal as expected during the season, scoring only 10 league goals between them. Fortunately, someone else stepped up: Trossard. He scored the opening goal for his 12th Premier League goal of the season – 17th in all competitions.
His form has displaced Martinelli as first choice on the left wing and he has confirmed Arteta’s faith at Old Trafford with another crucial contribution. Trossard is arguably the most natural finisher in Arsenal’s squad and has a proven track record of producing big moments even when on the periphery of the game.
Normally, Trossard scoring is a good sign for Arsenal. Heading into this match, Arsenal have won their last nine Premier League games when the Belgian has scored and are now without a clean sheet in their last dozen games.
James McNicholas
A week has passed to forget Casemiro. The 32-year-old was beaten and abused by Crystal Palace players in Monday’s 4-0 defeat before leaving Brazil’s squad for the 2024 Copa America on Friday.
The former defensive midfielder has struggled throughout the season for United, with injuries, tactical adjustments and other oddities keeping him a shadow of his former self.
Casemiro is no longer the man-controlled man who roamed Real Madrid’s midfield during their quest to win five Champions League titles. In the year This is not the man who will be waving Marcel Sabitzer in February 2023, knowing that few Premier League strikers can beat him.
This year’s Casemiro was slow to recognize the dangers of football. And Gentleness when responding to them. Arsenal’s opener in the 20th minute saw Casemiro once again moonlighting at centre-back – Andre Onana’s short goal-kicking attempt went wide.
Arsenal’s forward press quickly got the ball, but Onana was on the edge of the penalty area and Hevertz was out on the right.
Instead of running at full speed to join his teammates and possibly setting an offside trap, Casemiro moved without urgency.
Havertz’s cross found Trossard at the near post and Arsenal scored. United’s (reasonably) good work up to that point was overdue. As Gary Neville said on Sky Sports commentary: “This is a fundamental mistake. You have to get up quickly, and he left. There is no excuse for this.
What Eric Ten Haag’s side got from Casemiro’s long, deep ball (which Rasmus Højlund almost headed in the opening 10 minutes) was balanced in everything.
Casemiro is not a centre-back – neither he nor anyone linked with United went into the season expecting to play in an injury-restricted contingency. However, Casemiro is making the mistakes of a teenager at a time when Ten Hag are looking for big performances from their most experienced players.
Carl the Duck
Saliba and That’s what he said. to be treated
What is the biggest difference between Arsenal and Arsenal last year?
There are a few possible answers: Declan Rice, with a growing sense of maturity, is more likely to hit it off with City than take the lead. But perhaps the greatest of all was the presence of William Saliba.
Saliba was imperious for Arsenal (Stuart McFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images).
The centre-back’s value to Arsenal was seen in the second half when he produced a superb save on Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentina international beat him back before Saliba stepped in at the perfect time. If a junction could be a thing of beauty, this was indeed it.
Arsenal’s run of form last season lacked consistency. Saliba explains by example. Arsenal could still hold United in favor of the 23-year-old in a game where he lacked a good performance.
James McNicholas
Arsenal options
“We know the problem and the history,” Arteta said before a game at a ground where Arsenal have won just four times in 31 Premier League visits.
Whether it was an injury-hit United side or not, it was a professional performance in comparison to the game, without sticking it to Bayern Munich and Porto in the Champions League. Arsenal started the game sitting back, forcing United to play in a compact midfield and hit the ball.
There were a couple of heroics in the Arsenal box – most notably Saliba’s tackle (as noted above) – but it took more than 67 minutes for United to get a shot on target.
Arsenal showed different faces at the start of the second half, beating United on the field and counter-attacking quickly to win back the loss. There was also some delicate build-up with Havertz as a false nine and wings running inside, and at the other end of the tactical spectrum, wings defending deep inside the back six.
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Liam Tarme
Any crumbs of comfort for United?
The last few weeks have seen Ten Hag fall ill to reveal the damage he has done to United’s season. The Dutchman had ambitions to transform United into a transition-based team, but a spate of ailments prevented him from fielding his best XI for major parts of the season.
At the start of the game, Ten Hag have gone through 14 different centre-back combinations this season. Arsenal used three in comparison.
United are a team low on confidence and lacking a regular rhythm of passing – as seen in the second half, there were too many errant passes from United players in the final third, with individuals unsure of where to go and what to do in the rare moments of possession. In dangerous areas.
If there are any shreds of comfort, they are probably in the balance of United’s midfield.
Sofiane Amrabat rarely started in midfield and was tasked with collecting balls from United’s central defense in the build-up. The Moroccan side would sit next to Kobi Mino when he didn’t have the ball, creating a simple but not always visible screen in front of the front four.
United did not have the inconsistent and often mismatched line-up they have used against Arsenal in the past, instead sticking to a more limited 4-4-2 formation than usual as their opponents looked to recycle them.
Amad – who had to be substituted in the 70th minute due to injury – looked dangerous at times as he carried the ball forward. It may be his first Premier League start, but he has recently made a case for more game time (health permitting).
Carl the Duck
What did the managers say?
We bring you this after ten Haag and Arteta spoke in their post-match press conference.
Next Arsenal? (…supporting the Spurs?)
Sunday, May 19: Everton (H), Premier League, 4pm UK, 11am ET
After Manchester City fans watched this game hoping for a United win, Arsenal fans face the unenviable prospect of supporting Spurs when they host City on Tuesday night. Arsenal know they will need favor from elsewhere if they want to lift this trophy.
Arteta’s side then face Everton at the Emirates, who have lost just 31 games at home in the Premier League, winning 24 and drawing five.
What about after Manchester United?
Wednesday, May 15: Newcastle United (H), Premier League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
Since 1972, Newcastle’s only league win at Old Trafford is history with Manchester United. Yet: Eddie Howe jumped on many chances to beat Newcastle United 3-0 in the Carabao Cup in November.
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(Top photo: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)