Arsenal’s massive boost could secure top four place

At this stage of the season all that matters is results. Arsenal were some distance off their free-flowing best against Manchester United but found the inner reserves required to secure a tremendous 3-1 win.

Having got themselves into a position of comfort half an hour in with a two-goal cushion courtesy of strikes from Nuno Tavares and Bukayo Saka, the wheels that appeared to be scenically cantering towards three more valuable points got stuck in the mud.

Manchester United will count themselves unlucky to not have drawn level prior to Granit Xhaka’s thumping 25-yard strike.

Both the Gunners’ full-backs were having torrid afternoons, particularly on the left where Nuno was gifting possession away as if his goal contribution needed balancing out, and it’s not often a team survives a Bruno Fernandes penalty.

The return of Takehiro Tomiyasu against Manchester United can be Arsenal’s massive boost that helps secure a Premier League top four place

This was a game where the strength of Arsenal’s two first choice full-backs was accentuated. If you thought you loved Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu before the match there will no doubt have been a few shrines under construction in the second half to visualise that adoration.

Having seen the team stretched desperately thin over the past few weeks, aside from the goals that were scored there was no louder cheer than the one reserved for Tomiyasu’s most welcome of returns.

On the bench for this game and hoping to make his first appearance since the end of January, seeing Cedric get beaten with frightening regularity by Jadon Sancho, whip in numerous limp crosses that needlessly handed over possession and get away with handball in the box due to the rules apparently stating walking on all fours like a puppy exempts you from punishment, Tomiyasu’s return couldn’t come sooner.

That isn’t to be revisionist, as Cedric has done superbly for the vast majority of the time Tomi has been away with injury, yet in matches like these where defensive balance is so key and Arsenal effectively require a back three on account of Nuno often marauding into the No. 9 position, his value isn’t understated.

Therefore, coming on in added time lifted the stadium more than it already was. Barely on the pitch for 30 seconds he’d already skinned Cristiano Ronaldo and got the 37-year-old booked, offering a timely reminder of his excellence.

It’s a return from injury that could help secure Arsenal a top four spot. That is no exaggeration. With Tierney out and Nuno keeping his place, the side needs that stabaliser at right-back, someone who calms the whole back five down, allows Nuno to be more adventurous without as much calamitous defending, and brings one-on-one defensive steel to that side.

Finding their scoring boots all of a sudden with seven in the last two matches (Lacazette?), that hasn’t shored up matters at the other end. That is two games in succession where spells of the match have descended into pure chaos and in those moments you need your most reliable and trusted lieutenants.

With five crucial Premier League games to go – Tomiyasu will never be more needed than away at Spurs – the return of the man with the massive head (those are Ramsdale’s words) could be the clincher that gets Arsenal over the line.