Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal: 3 Things We Learned After Old Trafford Triumph

Arsenal beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Read the above again. Then one more time, and then again for good measure. Arsenal have just won a Premier League match at Old Trafford. I elaborate, Arsenal have just won a Premier League game away against the rest of the ‘big six’.

Incredible.

Shade can be thrown in the sense that this isn’t the best United team ever, or that the home side were poor on the day, but that means sweet naff all. For all associated with Arsenal, this is huge. Way beyond simply securing three points.

The antidote to the mental block that has plagued this football club for those 29 fixtures has finally been administered. Furthermore, it wasn’t just a smash and grab, fortuitous victory. It was brilliant. Arsenal were brilliant. Mikel Arteta was brilliant.

Here’s what we learned.

This Could be One of Arsenal’s Best Ever Summer Transfer Windows

The moment the news emerged that any deal for Houssem Aouar was dead in the water, that feeling of despondency deep in the pit of the stomach was hard to recover from. Arsenal’s essential need for a creative No. 8/10 was clear as day and it failed to materialse.

Certain areas weren’t addressed and still need to be, but Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey are already two of the best signings this club has made for many, many years.

Too soon to judge? Not in the slightest.

Gabriel was magnificent at Old Trafford. He timed his pressing perfectly on each occasion he opted to push out from the back four. Such confidence and composure is infectious. He permeates assurance in that area of the pitch. Was he lucky to still be on the pitch? You’d have to say so, yes, but he didn’t ease off after his early yellow card and maintained aggression and commitment throughout.

Then we’ve got Partey, who is the embodiment of a quintessential Premier League midfielder. Offering elements to the side that no other player in the squad can provide, his dynamism and ball carrying were exemplary at Old Trafford. It’s easy to make the comparison having seen Arsenal end a 14-year wait for three points at the Theatre of Dreams, but the Patrick Vieira-esque drive in midfield was unmissable.

Money very well spent.

Rob Holding is a Mainstay

There was a funny anecdote at Arsenal that hinted as soon as players got rid of their mullet haircuts, they suddenly got better. Cesc Fabregas and Eduardo being two standout examples.

In the case of Rob Holding, it appears the less hair he has, the better he gets.

I jest, but in all seriousness, he’s been superb since the loan move to Newcastle was called off. There were justified claims about how he was only capable of playing in a back three, but he’s left such suggestions out in the cold with some excellent displays alongside Gabriel in a back four.

The gradual switch from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3 has taken place even during matches, but Holding has firmly cemented his spot on the right hand side next to Hector Bellerin. What’s aided him in that, has been the impressive covering at right-back.

Holding now gets across the pitch quicker, physically he’s a lot stronger, and he allows Bellerin more freedom to roam up the pitch since he’s capable of filling there when the time calls for it. Fair play to him fighting back from that injury so quickly, too. Mighty fine achievement.

On current form, of the two on show tonight, I know which English centre-back I’d rather have playing for England.

Mikel Arteta Now Has (Welcome) Selection Issues

Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos played no part tonight. None at all. Prior to kick-off, suggesting that the Swiss wouldn’t be in the starting lineup would’ve been a precariously bold claim. Xhaka has clawed his way back into being an integral fixture of that midfield, yet Arsenal’s best performance of the season came without him playing.

Him not featuring isn’t the reason Arsenal won, but being able to perform to such a high standard without either him or Ceballos demonstrates that this midfield is starting to click. There is understanding and aggression in there. Ceballos and Xhaka now know what it’s going to take from them to wrestle their way back into the starting lineup.

Add to that Joe Willock putting in a great display in midweek – he wasn’t even on the bench – and Arteta has got healthy competition he’ll have to balance out for the rest of the season.

Can you really drop Mohamed Elneny for the home visit of Aston Villa next up? He’d face the scorn of a fanbase if he did. There is also Partey, who will make up 1/4 of Arsenal’s spine for years to come.

To think at one stage we were trembling in fear at the thought of our midfield for 2020/21. It suddenly looks imperious.