Man Utd 3-2 Arsenal: 4 positives from Old Trafford

3. Arsenal Know What the Problem is

The reason this defeat is tougher to swallow than the others suffered this season is because Arsenal shouldn’t have lost it. Yes, the Manchester United and Old Trafford factors are there, so too the magnitude of the game in regards to European ambitions, but nothing is worse than losing a match where defeat could easily have been avoided.

And we all know why.

Fingers can be pointed at Odegaard’s idiocy, poor marking in defensive situations and bizarre substitutions, but the point where Arsenal lost this game was in the 20th minute.

Taking the lead after 12 minutes was what the Gunners deserved for their start. Their shape nullified United’s attempts to play out, the counter-pressing was well drilled and the confidence to play in their half forced the series of corners that the goal eventually came from.

But then they stopped playing. Again.

Taking 20 touches in United’s third in the opening 13 minutes, that number dropped to 17 for the remaining 32 minutes plus injury time. In that first half United were crying out to be attacked. Arsenal had the game state in their favour and indescribably reverted to the same hair-pulling negativity out of possession that has been a mainstay of the team all season.

Arteta clearly doesn’t want them to do this, having said so himself and seen frantically gesticulating on the sidelines for his side to push up, but the frequency of its occurrence leaves him as culpable as the rest.

That’s where the game was lost and, if we’re looking positively, at least we know why.

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