Arsenal vs Manchester United: We have some momentum now

Arsenal’s season is winding down to a close and, just in time, they are starting to build some momentum at the fortress that the Emirates has become.

Sunday afternoon was again another solid performance at home against one of the top six. Arsenal have now taken ten points from the available 15 from the big teams. We are starting to make the Emirates a tough place to come – finally – and as the season draws to a close, we are starting to build a little momentum.

It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, but like Tottenham last week, we again looked solid and the players again showed the necessary fight required as we go for the top 4.

Performances like this in recent seasons have been lacking against the big teams, and it shows the marked improvement the team have made under Unai Emery this season, despite some fans trying to say to the contrary.

The defence again looked like a cohesive unit and they looked like they were playing with a little bit of confidence knowing that they have Bernd Leno in excellent form behind them, Ainsley Maitland-Niles particularly impressed at right-wing back considering he was out of position and he was my man of the match.

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Also standing out was Granit Xhaka who, after giving us the lead, gave the sort of midfield performance we have been crying out for from him, with him putting himself about in the centre of the park and providing defensive cover when needed.

This performance, as a whole, was much-needed after the horrific display in France on Thursday and, although I still think Arsenal have a performance like that still in them, the team are certainly looking better positioned, and Unai Emery is at the minute getting the best out of the players at his disposal.

The important thing is to keep the momentum going over the next few weeks and we now turn our attention to Thursday and the hope that we can turn the 3-1 deficit around and progress in the Europa League. Although we are in the top 4, winning the competition would certainly prove a bonus.

Manchester United at home was our final real test in the league between now and the end of the season. In the remaining eight games we have a fairly straight-forward run in which we should pick up the majority of points available, although Watford and Wolves away will prove tricky especially with our away form still being patchy for the most part.

We are, however, unbeaten in five in the league with only Tottenham taking points off us in the current run. There’s still a long way to go until the season and the skeptical side of me hopes we dont throw things away in the final weeks. But we have the momentum going into the final period and I’m sure Unai Emery will do his best to make sure we keep it.