The Premier League title race will go down to the final day after Arsenal earned a hard-fought 1-0 win at Manchester United.
After the first 15 minutes for the hosts, Arsenal soon began to relax in possession and turn the screw. They didn’t even need to get the drill out of their toolbox to score. Andre Onana played a difficult pass out to the left-hand side of United’s attack and Arsenal quickly capitalized while Casemiro was still jogging back to get level with his team-mates.
Arsenal came forward down their right flank with Kai Havetz, who knew exactly what the Red Devils are afraid of – a cutback. Leandro Trossard was there for a tap-in and gave Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing team a straightforward lead. The Gunners had even practiced moves to generate an overlap, then a low pullback and finish in their warm-up.
As for United’s perceptive, the blame went on Casemiro and Ten Hag’s faith in him wasn’t repaid.
This time last year as their title charge collapsed, who’d have said that Arsenal needed a Kai Havertz? Fast forward 12 months and the German has registered 20 goal contributions, his best return since his final season with Bayer Leverkusen before joining Chelsea.
Havertz, 24, has ousted Gabriel Jesus in the No.9 role and is keeping Gabriel Martinelli out of the side, with Trossard shifted to the left of the front three as opposed to down the middle. It wasn’t just an assist which Havertz offered in the first half, too, as he won more duels (seven) and more aerial duels (four) than any of his team-mates in the opening 45 minutes.
Thomas Partey was tipped a move away from Arsenal in January and yet at the most crucial time of the season, he’s partnering Declan Rice in midfield over Jorginho, who’s just been given a new contract. Arteta evidently trusts the Ghanaian but Gunners fans were left questioning his decision after a shaky first half which included him giving balls away and almost conceding a penalty.
As United winger Amad slalomed inside and towards the Arsenal penalty area, Partey slid in and his rival went tumbling down. Replays showed that the Gunners midfielder had his foot stood on by Amad, although missed clipping the Red Devils wide man by mere centrimetres.
Just like on-field referee Paul Tierney, the VAR team quickly dismissed the appeal. At half-time, pundit Keane said: “He’s the wrong side there. He’s a lucky boy. I don’t think it was a penalty.”
Wayne Rooney agreed: “I don’t think it’s a penalty. Partey is very lucky and goes off his feet early and fortunately just gets a nick on the ball. For me, it’s not a penalty but Partey is very lucky.”
Partey hadn’t got rid of his nerves after the break either, slipping inside his box and giving United yet another flash of hope.
You’d think after a full hour of play without a shot on target that United were being dominated by Arsenal. The Red Devils had chance after chance to test David Raya, who finally had a save to make in the 68th minute from a rather speculative sighter from Casemiro.
United’s midfield and forward line capitalized on a number of turnovers in both halves. However, they looked like rabbits in the headlights at times, picking the wrong pass or seeing shots blocked. The Old Trafford crowd roared them on but there was no end product for the second game running. The Mancunian afternoon sunshine turned into an evening thunderstorm.
Arsenal’s confidence inside their box was personified by a pinpoint tackle from William Saliba on Alejandro Garnacho. This showed the difference between these great clubs in 2024. Ten Hag’s side remains in eighth place, three points behind Newcastle in sixth, who they face on Wednesday.