Arsenal has justed recorded what could be described as their best performance so far this season in the English Premier League, as they beat United 2-0 at the Emirate Stadium. The victory on Wednesday night is the first win in seven home games in all competition, but the first win for their new manager, Mikel Arteta after Chelsea’s defeat last time.
Arsenal who were at the bottom half of the English Premier League table before the start of the game, needed to win, so also were Manchester United, and as expected, Arsenal took the game to their visitors, as they dominated the game from the outset. They won all the tackles, contested the second ball, while also attacking the Red Devils from the flangs.
The high pressing and commitment from the Arsenal players paid off later, as Nicolas Pepe scored the opener to give the host the lead in the first half. Sokratis Papastathopoulos made it 2-0 in the second half, after yet another David de Gea’s error from Arsenal’s corner kick.
The game saw a lot of returnees for Arsenal, as they had the starting eleven of Sokratis, Xhaka, Mesut Ozil, Torreira, Bernd Leno, David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette, Augbameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Sead Kolasinac and Maitland-Niles.
Manchester United who were again very poor and disappointing on the night, travelled to the Emirate stadium without Paul Pogba, as they lined up with David De Gea, Matic, Lindelof, MaGuire, Wan Bissaka, Rasford, Lingard, Martial, Fred, Luke Shaw, and James
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta talking to MOTD after the game, said:“The performances are getting better and today was perfect. New year, new opportunity against a big club.
“You have to give everything, that is a must. Non-negotiable at a club like this. At the moment to maintain that intensity is not what they are used to. We will be able to do that soon for longer periods.
“The atmosphere I felt something different straight away, thank you to the fans.”