Three Things We Learned from Manchester United 2 – 2 Arsenal
Arsenal came away from their adventures at Old Trafford with 2 points lost. While it was a draw such is the feeling around the Emirates right now that the result isn’t as satisfying as it should be. Still, coming away from that match we’re still on a positive trajectory, with our 20th match in all competitions without facing a defeat.
So with that in mind let’s look at the Three Things We Learned form Manchester United v Arsenal.
Testing our Depth
Any match that features Jose vs Arsenal is going to be a physical struggle and in some cases is going to exact some physical pain on players. Yesterday was no different.
Rob Holding was stretchered off in the first half after twisting his knee. Initial reports from Emery are that this is a “big injury” and the club will have to wait to hear from the doctors until the full extent of the injury is known.
Shortly after Holding went down, Aaron Ramsey – he of the metallic ankle – also suffered a knock that took him out of the game for the entirety of the second half. Emery in his post-game interview was a little more upbeat with Ramsey’s prognosis and called it a small injury.
Both loses for even if they happen to be for a short time are problematic. Rob Holding has been an absolutely steady presence in the back for Arsenal. He started alongside both Mustafi and Sokratis when one or the other was out. Then was put into the back 3 system Emery has employed recently.
His continued presence in the lineup goes to show how much Emery trusts the youngster. His performances, week-in, week-out show how much he has grown as a player since his arrival.
Add his injury to Koscielny’s and Mavropanos’ and we have two fit senior CBs right now. Of course, Lichtsteiner can fit into there as can possibly Kolasinaic (don’t really want to see that) so we’ve got cover. Additionally, Mavropanos and Kos should be back shortly as Kos works on match fitness and Mavropanos comes back to the training this month.
Ramsey may be less of worry as it does seem like a precautionary removal for a slight knock. However, his absence becomes problematic if Mesut Özil’s back hasn’t improved.
Then there is the fatigue factor.
Last night I felt we were clearly the better side – or at least the only side that tried to actually go out and play and win the match. One thing however, stood out to me – specifically we looked tired.
And you know what? It’s understandable. The North London Derby was an energetic, intense affair and to come out and do it all over again in just 3 short days is taxing even on players you are in excellent shape.
I came away with the feeling many others had that if this match had occurred on Saturday with nothing in between, this match wouldn’t have even been close.
Still A Work In Progress
20 matches without a defeat is an impressive run by any feat. It’s the longest such run for Arsenal since 2007 and is two matches short of George Graham’s 22 undefeated in his first season. Graham would go on to win the league a short 2 years later.
That’s not to say we’re going to win the league in 2 years. But the trajectory of this club is right. In fact, it’s ahead of where I thought we would be. I honestly never thought we’d be this far ahead, and I truly believe that top 4 is more than achievable this year.
I know sometime soon we’re going to lose another match. That comes with a club that are still transitioning, albeit quickly, to a new era. We’re not a finished product yet and I do think we are akin to where Liverpool where under Klopp until he got Virgil van Dijk in his back 4. Great attack, always a threat but suspect defensively.
We’re seeing that while there is structure to our play and improved structure in our defensive set up, we’re still prone to defensive errors. And on the evidence its more to do with personnel than it is with defensive set up.
Personnel can only be rectified through transfer windows and time. Additionally, some of these players may just need more time working with Emery and his coaches. Kolasinac is the perfect example.
Not entirely convincing as a LB he has shown since his return that as an attacking WB he’s fantastic. His defensive work needs help and I do think that could be coached into him. He was highly rated in the Bundesliga and let’s be honest last season no one was being given the proper instruction and it hurt players development.
Still, there is work to be done both in personnel and set up. We’re still going to have matches that make us collectively say – what the hell was that?
I love what is happening around the Emirates on and off the pitch. But I am not naïve and know full well we’re going to hit a wall. We need to remember we’re still building and changing the course from where were these last 10 or so years isn’t going to just happen in the course of 1/3 of a season.
Emery deserves recognition
Emery’s appointment was considered milquetoast by certain corners of the Arsenal supporters with some even calling him a “bridge” manager – or someone filling the seat until the manager the club really wanted was available.
Regardless of that, what Emery has achieved in such a short time is nothing short of remarkable. The entire mindset of a set of players who looked completely spent and jaded as the season closed last year has changed.
The supporters nearly brought down the Emirates with the NLD win. And all of it is because one man is trying desperately to put something out there we can be proud of on a match-to-match basis.
When Emery was at PSG he was, I felt, never really a manager. He was a circus ring leader with Neymar the star attraction and real runner of the show. His other stints with clubs in Spain that would never be able to fight above the Europa League spots because of the likes of Barca, Real Madrid and Atletico above them.
He’s finally at a team where maybe, just maybe he can craft his own masterpiece. We won’t ever spend like Man City or PSG but I do feel we’ll do what we can to be competitive in our own right.
It may very well be that Emery is a bridge manager, but he is making the most of his time here and will alter the trajectory of this club and has already arrested the malaise that had come over it prior to his time here.
For that and his impressive run of matches, he deserves some recognition. Manager of the month for now would be nice. . . we’ll see where we are at the end of the season for other plaudits.
