Arsenal vs Manchester United: When a point feels like a defeat

There haven’t been many times over the last few years that I have watched Arsenal play at Old Trafford and come away feeling like a draw felt like a defeat.

That’s exactly what it felt like, all the talk before the game was how this was one of the worst Manchester United sides in Premier League history and that Arsenal wouldn’t have a better chance of taking all three points.

But when you’re an Arsenal fan, you know never to take this talk for granted and again it proved. What we got tonight was a game so poor in quality you felt at times you were watching Burnley vs Stoke, not two giants of English Football.

The first 45 minutes alone were completely soul-destroying and they were made even worse when Manchester United broke up the pitch from our corner and although the initial attack was broken up, Scott McTominay’s shot was defected in from distance.

The second half we showed a little more attacking intent but that was only after Dani Ceballos was brought on in place of Lucas Torreira. Why Unai Emery again decided to start with a midfield three of Xhaka, Torreira and Guendouzi in a big game completely baffled me. It’s almost like he is setting up the team to not lose but also not to win.

As good as Guendouzi is, he’s not an attack-minded player and Torreira is better used as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four. So why was he our most forward-thinking midfielder before he was replaced? If you want a midfield player to link with the attack then why not start someone like Ozil or Willock who have the attributes to do this?

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It poses so many questions around Emery’s team selections and the roles he’s getting players to do. Half the time tonight we looked completely clueless and aside from Bukayo Saka, I couldn’t see any creative spark from any other player. Not to take anything away from Saka, who I thought was fantastic tonight, but it really doesn’t bode well when an 18-year-old making only his second ever league start is your best attacker. Yet again we were bailed out by Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang when his goal was awarded after a VAR review after what was one of the most ridiculous offside decisions you are ever likely to see.

After the equalizer, aside from a great Saka chance, we completely dropped our intensity and allowed Manchester United to attack us. It’s something that you see from this Arsenal side too much. When a team are there for the taking we just seem to sit back and look happy to settle for a point. Some Arsenal fans will claim that tonight was a good point, but it really wasn’t. Three, four years ago it would have been a good point but when we are looking to get back to being an elite side, this is a game you need to be winning and our poor record against the top six away from home continues.

A few more things to take away from tonight’s game. Nicholas Pepe really needs to start stepping up. He was abysmal tonight and it won’t be long before Saka and Martinelli should be getting starts ahead of him. Finally, I think Calum Chambers also looked solid at rightback and he should be the back up choice to Hector Bellerin in that position.

I have said it before but Unai Emery really needs to start taking more risks in games like this. To be fair, we are in the top four after playing three of the big six. Unai Emery too will claim that tonight was a good point but deep down I’m sure it will feel like a defeat.