Manchester United 0, Arsenal 1
Leandro Trossard fired in the only goal of an important victory at Manchester United for Arsenal as they returned to the Premier League summit.
The narrow 1-0 defeat – their 9th defeat at Old Trafford in all competitions this term – leaves United languishing in 8th place with a visit from Newcastle United on Wednesday coming and a place in Europe at stake.
United fans will have been conflicted as a Reds win would have put a massive dent in Arsenal’s bid to overhaul rivals Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
But defeat leaves United probably needing to win the FA Cup – against the Manchester City juggernaut, to qualify for Europe next season.
The makeshift Manchester United side did not contain Bruno Fernandes again for the second consecutive game and after a ‘patient’ start by the Gunners they were soon 1-0 up after Leandro Trossard easily escaped the attentions of Casemiro to turn home Kai Havertz cross from the right after Arsenal counter attacked.
It was the 82nd goal that United had conceded in all competitions – the most since the 1970/71 season.
The defence received some additional coaching by Erik Ten Hag during a drinks break in the first half but the Reds’ attack looked blunt as despite the shots they had they didn’t ever look like scoring.
Arsenal were below their scintillating best but with United providing little goal threat of their own they didn’t particularly need to once they had taken the lead.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard provided Arsenal’s other big chances while Amad Diallo looked eye catching in the first half but faded.
By the end of the game Andre Onana had kept the Reds in the game going in to aded time with a little help from Kobbie Mainoo but the defence looked decidedly makeshift as the heavens opened to a massive thunderstorm over Old Trafford.
Arsenal were content to hold on but had a shaky moment when Gabriel Martinelli was robbed and Casemiro started an attack only for Alejandro Garnacho to screw the shot wide.
In the end, the Gunners recorded an 11th clean sheet away from home in the Premier League – only Chelsea with 12 have more on the road in a single campaign.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 0, Arsenal 1
Andre Onana: 8. Early save from Bukayo Saka and second half save from Martin Odegaard. Palmed away late shots by Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Out of position at left back again. Spent a lot of time raiding forward leaving defence exposed down his flank. Driving run into midfield ended in Leandro Trossard having to boot the ball out of play for a corner.
Casemiro: 5. Started at centre back again, he was slow to get close to goalscorer Leandro Trossard after he had played Kai Havertz onside. Didn’t help that full backs were playing high. Provided a good ball over the top for Rasmus Hojlund, not afraid of a long pass over the midfield and, in the second half, a ridiculous long range pot shot which David Raya easily dealt with.
Jonny Evans: 6. Played while injured on Monday. Gritted teeth and got on with it again today. Blocked a shot by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6. Looking after Leandro Trossard but struggled with Arsenal’s movement. Blocked a shot by Declan Rice in the second half with well timed defensive interventions as Arsenal struggled to create clear chances.
Sofyan Ambrabat: 6. Hybrid defensive role. Stopped Leandro Trossard before he could break free and got stuck in during the second half.
Kobbie Mainoo: 6. Cut out early cross into the box by Kai Havertz. Tasked with looking after Declan Rice and provided a decent shield to the back four but the gaps were there to be exploited.
Scott McTominay: 6. Advanced midfield role but clashed with Thomas Partey.
Amad Diallo: 6. Showed his skill but was outmuscled by Leandro Trossard in the first half and had a penalty claim turned down. Injured in the first half and was struggling after that. Faded in second half.
Alejandro Garnacho: 7. Shot deflected off Gabriel. Back pass almost put Andre Onana in trouble. Got no change off Ben White in the first half and William Salina stopped one mazy run into the box in the second half. Screwed a curling shot wide when he broke free of the Arsenal defence in the second half and had another two efforts deflected off Ben White as space opened up late in the game.
Rasmus Hojlund: 6. Denied early shooting chance. Made himself a pest, pressing high, but Arsenal cut off options to him and isolated him – William Saliba got the better of him.
Antony (on for Amad Diallo, 70): 6. Tame shot following a run into the area after a United breakaway.
Willy Kambwala (on for Jonny Evans, 75): Slotted in alongside Casemiro.
Christian Eriksen (on for Sofyan Amrabat, 87): No time to mark
Omari Forson (On for Aaron Wan-Bisska, 87): No time to mark
Ethan Wheatley (on for Rasmus Hojlund, 88): No time to mark
TEAM NEWS – Manchester United 0, Arsenal 1
Amad Diallo, Sofyan Amrabat, and Scott McTominay were brought into the side after United made three changes to the side that lost heavily at Crystal Palace.
Mason Mount withdrew from this game with another injury while Christian Eriksen and Antony were dropped to the bench.
Bruno Fernandes was still missing through injury for the second successive game after a injury free record of over 600 games.
Arsenal were unchanged from the side that thrashed Bournemouth last weekend.
GOAL – Manchester United 0, Arsenal 1
Man Utd 0, Arsenal 1: 21. Leandro Trossard was at hand to slot in from close range with Casemiro nowhere near his man after Kai Havertz drilled a low cross into the box following a swift turn over by Arsenal
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 0, Arsenal 1
Man Utd: Onana, Dalot, Casemiro, Evans (Kambwala 75), Wan-Bissaka (Forson 87), Sofyan Ambrabat (Eriksen 87), Mainoo, McTominay (C), Diallo (Antony 70), Garnacho, Hojlund (Wheatley 88)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Collyer, Amass, Ogunneye
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey (Kiwior 90+2), Odegaard (C) (Jorginho 90+2), Rice, Saka (Jesus 82), Trossard (Martinelli 66), Havertz
Arsenal Subs not used: Ramsdale, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira, Zinchenko
Bookings: Saka 71 (foul on Sofyan Amrabat); Raya 93+4 (time wasting)
Goal: Trossard 21
Referee: Paul Tierney
Attendance: 73,600