Key Takeaways: Manchester United vs. Arsenal

Arteta Gets His Tactics Right!

Coming into the game, Manchester United had not lost to Arsenal at Old Trafford in the last 13 meetings against them.

Mikel Arteta surely would have been cognizant of Arsenal’s difficulties away from the Emirates, especially against the other “Big 6” clubs.

The tactics needed to be spot on to prevent another embarrassing away performance from the Gunners. But Arteta did just that.

By employing a back three, with Tierney playing as the left-sided center back and the dangerous Bukayo Saka as the wing-back on that same side, Arsenal found defensive solidity and good space on the wings.

The best chances of the games routinely fell to the Gunners. It was only the lack of a better finishing touch.

In the case of Willian’s effort that clipped the top of the crossbar, or a last-ditch defensive touch by a United defender, in the case of Lindelof’s vital touch to stop Lacazette from driving a first time shot in the back of the net.

For the first 60 minutes of the match, Man United were well and truly neutralized as an attacking threat. Arteta’s charges pressed the ball well as a unit and gave United’s Fernandes and Pogba very little time to pick the killer pass.

The breakthrough came with the penalty given in the 68th minute. Manchester United players and fans might feel a little hard done by, and it was a tight decision, but these are the calls that players get in the modern game.

Soft or not, the call was not overturned by VAR and Aubameyang was clinical from the spot.