Arsenal crept back into the top four with a scrappy point at mid-table Manchester United in an indifferent game at Old Trafford.
Played in torrential rain this was a game of equal parts slapstick, carnage, end to end attacking, comedic defending, sloppy passing and sheer unadulterated boredom.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made three changes as Mata, Matic and the ill Wan Bissaka made way for Lingard, Tuanzebe and the returning Pogba. Marcus Rashford was a surprise inclusion after a groin injury in the pitiful defeat at West Ham. Arsenal made two changes as Chambers came in at right-back in place of Maitland Niles and Ceballos was replaced by Torreira.
The game’s opening half-hour was a scrappy, disjointed mess in the rain and passes went astray and shots were scarce. The game slowly burst into life towards half time, firstly Pogba strode forward and slipped a ball through to Rashford who shot tamely, and Arsenal responded with a Saka shot and a Guendouzi rebound both of which were comfortable saves for David de Gea.
Arsenal then won a corner on the stroke of half time which resulted in Daniel James streaking away on the counter. James’ cross was a touch too hard for Rashford, who recovered the pass and set it back to the edge of the area allowing McToominay to lash home via a slight Sokratis deflection and a comical duck out of the way by Xhaka.
The second half improved ever so slightly and on 58 minutes Arsenal levelled after the impressive Tuanzebe misplaced a square pass allowing Saka to feed Aubameyang who calmly chipped it over De Gea only to have it disallowed due to a shambolic offside flag. VAR intervened and the goal stood.
From that the game flickered into life occasionally, with Saka, Pepe, Maguire and McTominay all missing decent chances before a late Rashford free-kick was smartly saved by Leno. Youngster Greenwood missed two half chances but the game ended and draw and an example as to why both teams are a long way from their title-winning histories.
Arsenal now embark on a nine-game run against the traditional bottom 14 whilst United move on to fellow strugglers Newcastle before a match against fierce rivals Liverpool as things verge on the precarious for Solskjaer with six away games in the next seven.
Nostalgia the only thing keeping United and Arsenal in the elite
“Nostalgia – its delicate, but potent….. in Greek nostalgia literally means “the pain from an old wound.” It’s a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone….it takes us to a place where we ache to go again.” Don Draper could easily have been talking about this once great rivalry.
Both teams, the football world in general, and the TV companies are desperate for this rivalry to go back to the 96-05 peak. It’ll never happen.
One of the biggest issues towards the end of Wenger’s reign was a perceived lack of coaching and improvement.
Tonight was another example of a lack of change by Emery. The set pieces were scandalously bad with one chipped pass to no one from 30 yards a particular low light.
Solskjaer is certainly aching for the old days and seems to be on a mission to mention Sir Alex Ferguson in every press conference as if a bet or drinking game is riding on it.
Both sides have a lack of attacking strategy, Arsenal are reliant on Aubameyang magic whereas United are solely reliant on counter-attacks. Instead of comparing themselves to the Keane, Vieira, Ronaldo, Henry era both sides needs to concentrate on Liverpool and Manchester City. Both are lightyears ahead of these two and Arsenal and United are on the brink of becoming a tribute support act as a new Premier League rivalry emerges.
VAR an unpredictable mess
The game’s main talking points were again provided by VAR. Saed Kolasinac looked to have clearly handled in the area but VAR again failed to overturn the on-field decision. It was then put to good use as a quite embarrassing offside decision against Aubameyang nearly cost Arsenal a point.
VAR in its current guise is missing the chance for the on-field referee to swap their own decision or a version of cricket’s “umpires call” where marginal wrong decisions are left alone.
The situation now leaves a game where obvious fouls and infringements are left alone by VAR if the referee misses it but petty marginal calls are stamped down on.
Guendouzi and McTominay maturing quickly
The two young midfielders are fast becoming driving forces for their sides and tonight was another example. Guendouzi was a scampering presence and ran Arsenal’s midfield again with four tackles and a 90% pass rate as Xhaka and Torreira again struggled.
McTominay was the main attacking threat (three shots – second-most on the side) and main defensive presence (four tackles most for United) from midfield and missed a great header as well as scoring from range, and after a slow start to his United career looks more Darren Fletcher than Darron Gibson.
Both have obvious flaws and would probably be regarded as not good enough for their respective sides but both are winging it as the work it out and have the charisma and swagger to impose themselves on their respective clubs.
Three at the back the way to go at United
Despite Tuanzebe’s poor pass for the goal the young centre back played well filling in at left-back and with United struggling going forward maybe Solskjaer could play a back three with two wing-backs. As well as giving United extra stability it could free up Pogba from babysitting in a deep midfield role.
Aubameyang the main man again
Aubameyang is single-handedly carrying Arsenal so far this season. With Lacazette injured and Pepe struggling to impose himself, Aubameyang was aided by the impressive Saka up front tonight and scored his first-ever away goal at a top-six rival.
His goals this season are now responsible for all of Arsenal’s points – winners against Burnley, Aston Villa and Newcastle, equalisers against Spurs and Manchester United and both goals in the 2-2 draw at Watford.
With Aguero likely to be rested, Kane looking less than sharp and Salah and Mane off the boil Aubameyang could streak ahead in the next nine matches in his bid to retain the Golden Boot.
