Premier League
Arsenal Move Into Top Four After Win Over United
Goals from Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helped Arsenal defeat Manchester United and move into the Champions League places.
Granit Xhaka opened the scoring after hitting a 25-yard strike, which totally deceived David De Gea in the Manchester United goal.
Midway through the second half Aubameyang coolly converted a penalty to seal all three points.
The defeat for Manchester United was their first Premier League loss under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United had their chances, in particular for Romelu Lukaku. They also hit the woodwork twice in the first half.
However, a mistake by De Gea and a soft penalty decision proved to be United’s downfall.
The defeat means United are now two points behind Arsenal and move out of the top four.
Mistake By De Gea
Arsenal got off to a bright start. Inside two minutes, a dangerous cross into the box by Sead Kolasinac almost found Alexandre Lacazette inside the box but the cross just evaded the Frenchman.
On nine minutes, Manchester United came within inches of taking the lead.
Luke Shaw played a brilliant ball into the box, which found it’s way through to Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian hit a shot from close range, which clipped the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Arsenal took the lead. Lacazette laid the ball off to Granit Xhaka. The Swiss midfielder hit a shot from 25-yards-out that totally deceived David De Gea in the United goal and found the back of the net.
The Spanish keeper will have been disappointed, as he really should have saved it.
Manchester United came close to an equaliser after 18 minutes. Fred picked the ball up just outside the box and unleashed a shot, which struck the base of the post.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side looked lethargic, especially in midfield after their European exertions in midweek.
On 36 minutes, Romelu Lukaku had another good chance to score. Marcus Rashford played a good through pass to the Belgian striker.
He then shrugged off Arsenal defenders Nacho Monreal and Lauren Koscielny and tried to go round Bernd Leno in the Arsenal goal.
The German keeper did well though and made a crucial save.
Aubameyang Doubles Arsenal Lead
Manchester United got off to a bright start in the second half. A through pass from Marcus Rashford found Romelu Lukaku but once again the Belgian was denied by Leno in the Arsenal goal.
United were beginning to put pressure on Arsenal’s defence.
However, on 68 minutes, Arsenal had the chance to double their lead. Alexandre Lacazette drove into the box and was adjudged to have been brought down inside the penalty area by Fred.
It appeared to be a soft penalty decision and there didn’t appear to be much contact from the Brazilian midfielder.
Up stepped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who coolly slotted the ball past De Gea.
Two minutes later, Arsenal had a chance to extend their lead. A mistake from Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof allowed Lacazette in on goal but the French striker dragged his shot way wide.
Arsenal defended well and saw the game out comfortably, as they secured a crucial win in their hopes to reach the Champions League.
Attacking Line-up Pays Off For Emery
Arsenal boss Unai Emery put out an attacking line-up with Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil all starting.
At times it was a front three with Aaron Ramsey supporting in midfield. The bold selection paid off especially in the first 25 minutes of the game.
Arsenal looked fresher and were pressing with great intensity. Their goal may have come from a mistake by David De Gea but it was no more than they deserved after the opening quarter of the game.
They also showed the other side of the game in the second half and defended well, nullifying Manchester United’s attacking threat.
The penalty did appear to be a very soft decision but Aubameyang showed great bottle for stepping up to the plate, especially after missing a penalty last weekend against Tottenham.
Unai Emery will know that their is a long way to go and the race for the top four looks set to go down to the wire.
But this is a huge morale boosting win, especially after their Europa League defeat to Rennes on Thursday.
First Premier League Defeat Under Solskjaer
For the first time as Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffered defeat in the Premier League.
There is no doubt the sheer physical and mental effort in midweek against PSG in the Champions League caught up with them, especially in the first 25 minutes.
Manchester United looked leggy and looked off the pace in midfield.
Having said that, they did have their chances throughout the match. Romelu Lukaku hit the crossbar and missed a great chance when one on one with Bernd Leno in the Arsenal goal.
United certainly didn’t play badly and could have easily got at least a point from this match.
However, the mistake by David De Gea in the first half allowed Arsenal to gain confidence.
It was a shot that nine times out of 10 the Spanish keeper would save. Yes, there may have been some swerve on Granit Xhaka’s shot but the ball went in the center of the goal. De Gea will know he should have saved it.
Solskjaer will also point out that the penalty looked very soft and there didn’t appear to be much contact, as Lacazette went down inside the box.
This was a missed opportunity after Tottenham had lost and Chelsea were held by Wolves. Manchester United are still very much in the race for the top four and Solskjaer will know they have to cut out the mistakes and take their chances to get there.
Next up for United is the FA Cup quarter-final away to Wolves on Saturday night.
Arsenal face Rennes on Thursday night looking to turnaround a 3-1 deficit in the Europa League.
Photo credit to Arsenal via Twitter
