Have Arsenal seen Manchester United’s demise?

When the full-time whistle blew at Vicarage Road the overwhelming feeling of relief was overtaken with a dash of realisation: Arsenal are in the Premier League top four.

Some absorbing attacking football was balanced out with sloppiness and carelessness at the back, all which would have made for some excellent entertainment for those of a neutral perspective watching from home.

What the not-so-neutrals won’t have enjoyed was glancing at the table when it was confirmed that Arsenal wrapped up the three points with a 3-2 win. There, in writing, is the Gunners in fourth place, with multiple games in hand on those below them.

All that was needed was for Manchester City to hold up their end of the bargain – just as they hadn’t done recently against Tottenham – and as far as happy Sundays go, this one would rank very highly.

Have Arsenal seen Manchester United’s demise? The Premier League top four battle leans in the Gunners favour after Man City beat United 4-1

Shaking off their very brief ownership of the bottlejob tag, City ripped Manchester United to pieces, casually earning a 4-1 win in the derby and ensuring that Ralf Rangnick’s side sit below Arsenal in the table by a solitary point.

A solitary point, and three additional matches played. Even the goal difference earned a welcome boost.

It is looking remarkably well for Arsenal; they’re into the top four positions without needing to lean on those games in hand. Everyone at the club deserves tremendous credit for getting into this position, even if it still is far from over.

United, however, look dead and buried. It would be an incredible turnaround for them to seal a top four spot now. The Gunners’ current trajectory has them due to claim 72.96 points, if rounded down to 72 that means seven wins, three draws and three defeats to reach that figure. Meanwhile, United can only afford to draw and lose one apiece from their remaining ten Premier League matches to match that points tally. It will require some outstanding form from them and a total collapse in north London.

The more you watch a pathetic group of footballers who downed tools at half-time in a derby match, the more you see a club in free fall. You can be off the pace. You can have a lower calibre of player. You can be mismanaged for years under different managers. But you can’t give up.

Their next managerial appointment will be one of the most important decisions post-Fergie. Even then, whoever comes in has to make the remains of £1.2bn spent over the past decade work, at a stadium where some of the biggest names in the game have tried their hand and failed.

Of course, they’ll throw more money at the situation. They’ll pay whatever it takes to get Erik ten Hag or Mauricio Pochettino out of their contracts.

But they’re falling further afield and that may well tell this season as the top four slips further away from their reach. While not entirely out of it, you’ve got one team with ‘united’ in their name who are anything but that, and another who are where they are largely in part to that very trait. One club took the leap, ripped almost everything out, and started again. The other club thought rot stopped rot. They’re a shambles from the top down.

While United’s current demise is a delicious palate cleanser, Arsenal have only just served up the first course on the tasting menu. There is only one table you want to dine at this season.