Post Match Reaction: Three Things We Learned from Arsenal v Manchester United

What a wonderful weekend of football and football related news. Let’s just quickly run down the list for you in case you’ve been on holiday or living under a rock. By 6:30PM UK time, Arsenal had soundly beaten Manchester United. Jose Mourinho had an epic meltdown pleading to keep his job which means Chelsea must’ve lost (again), Tottenham dropped points with Harry Kane netting an epic own goal and the cherry on the top – Brendan Rodgers gets the sack. And just to reiterate, Arsenal didn’t just win against Manchester United, they took them apart in a scant 10 minutes.

All in all it’s a good day to be an Arsenal supporter. So let’s quickly look back on this weekend’s events and savor them (for now.)

Everything Wenger did was right

Many people are loathe to criticize Wenger. But when he gets it wrong he deserves to get called out on it. Conversely, when he gets it bang on we should mention that as well. In the aftermath of our Champion’s League meltdown, this blog criticized Wenger (and the players) for their effort or lack thereof in being prepared for a must-win scenario. It left a lot of people worried that a similar fate might befall the Gunners heading into an equally important league match.

However, whatever Wenger’s shortcomings might be, he has shown time and time again that he knows how to get a response out of his squad when it’s needed.  From the start the game plan was  bang on. When United got the ball, we quickly closed space and cut of their channels to move the ball. Winning the ball up high we would then quickly transition into attack. The result was that Wenger had the team set up to use their superior speed against a slow midfield and slow back line to create havoc and it worked to perfection.

The effort that led to each goal was classic Arsenal in the passing and buildup play but it was also yeoman-like in the effort that went into winning the ball and switching to transition. Whatever Wenger said heading into this match and however he planned – it worked. Arsenal were simply in another gear than United. The goals were beautious in their style and power. But where I was more impressed was how Wenger simply had his team lock it down after being up 3-0.

United simply had no answer. Martial got close but for the most part our biggest bogey team simply was devoid of any desire against a team that showed it wanted it more. From goalkeeper to striker and all in between, the players looked locked into the game plan and came at it with vim and vigor we’ve not seen yet this season. Word is that after the debacle that was the midweek loss to Olympiacos, Wenger brought down all holy hell on his charges.

If true, then he got the requisite response and he’ll need to do more of that if Arsenal want to maintain their title tilt.

People are wont to criticize Wenger – ad nauseum – however they won’t do anything when he gets it right. Wenger in this win shows why I will always believe he will be remembered as a better manager than Mourinho. Wenger consistently is able to get responses when needed. When the chips are stacked against him – he can get his team to perform. That’s what a manager/coach should be doing. Mourinho for all his winning with riches amassed – doesn’t seem to be able to turn things around when it goes sour for his teams – hence why I think he creates havoc so he can get out and go somewhere else for a few years. Wenger is a manager/coach and like them all he has issues but he knows he can get the best out of his players when it’s needed. For that he needs to be given credit.

Arsenal are in the title race

At the start of this season many chided me when I picked Arsenal to be in the hunt for the title this season. That remark was thrown back at me on Sept 1 when after the transfer window closed Arsenal failed to sign any one beyond Petr Cech. The focus was solely on what Arsenal DIDN’T have rather than what they had and what was going on around them.

The league is playing out pretty much how I suspected though I didn’t see Chelsea having an epic collapse. But with the league’s overall quality down – not competitiveness – the race for the title is still wide open.

At this point last season it was fair to say Arsenal were not going to be in the title chase. We were having poor start and just couldn’t get it going, especially with most of our talent residing on the training table. This year while there are injuries, the nagging soft-tissue injuries are gone and we have a regular player pool to draw from. That’s led to a team that knows itself and once it got going would be a quality side.

With a 5-2 result last week and 3-0 result this, Arsenal are starting to purr (in the league at least.) Right now only City have shown themselves to be more capable of mounting a title challenge.

Of course Arsenal’s title tilt will only go as far as the team’s level of consistency allows them. This was a performance that those of us who had Arsenal pegged for a title challenge knew we could put out there. It’s maddening to think it took the last two weeks to see it. If Arsenal can perform like this more often they will have a definite say in who the title will go to.

Arsenal’s attack could be down right scary when it wants to be

Theo called this some of the best football he’s seen since he’s been at the club. It may be one of the best or the best performances we’ve seen by an Arsenal squad in 10 years. The focus though has to be on the effectiveness of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Özil and Theo Walcott. Each one of them were essential to yesterday’s win.

In the run up to the match a lot of pundits were speculating that Matteo Darmian would be able to handle Alexis Sanchez. Darmian’s yellow card and subsequent removal at half time shows how wrong they were. Alexis Sanchez was a handful not just for Darmian but for the United defense in general. That first goal and the movement across the box was just scintillating. However, it was his second goal with the work rate and precision that will be remembered.

To use a Wenger term – Sanchez was jaded early in the season showing the wear and tear of a long summer and short time off. However, as he got more games under his belt it was clear that the Chilean was getting back to his best. The hattrick against Leicester and the brace against United show how an in form Sanchez can effect a game. But he can’t do it alone. And he isn’t.

At the beginning of the year, I felt Mesut Özil might be a candidate for player of the year. Realistically, I know the players might pick him as their pick but the English journalists won’t because they won’t appreciate the ease of how he plays a game. Yesterday though was not just about the ease with which he played but the purpose of which he played.

I am convinced this man sees things other players simply do not. His movement to the near post for the assist for the first goal was in reaction to knowing where Sanchez was and anticipation of movement. Maybe he didn’t know Sanchez would come into the near-post ala Giroud but he knew that once he committed his run so too would Sanchez. The result a sublime goal. His own goal showed again how he finds space and the pass to the lower corner netted the goal that put the match away. Heck he was so good, he nearly did twice in the same exact fashion. Özil and Sanchez are the cog and pully of this team now and the team seem to be establishing a level of understanding that should worry other teams.

The other consideration into our attack is Theo Walcott. Without scoring a goal yesterday Theo impacted the match as you want a striker too. He forced United’s back line to keep track of him which allowed there to be the space for Sanchez and/or Özil to operate in. His movement draws more than one player and it creates open channels to run in. He noted before the game that he wanted to add some of Giroud’s hold play to his overall game. Yesterday he did just that and it showed in his assist for the Alexis’ second goal.

Theo may not have been the striker option many were thinking of this season but operating in front of Özil and Sanchez he continues to make a case as to why he should be where he is. What teams have to worry about now is having an attack with these three players in it and functioning so well. It will be a lot for teams to handle and for us it will be fun to see

Extra time

Let’s all spare a thought for Brendan Rodgers. I mean next to Mourinho has there ever been such a self-absorbed jack ass who was so perfect for the club he was at? The only worry now is that Liverpool might actually wake up and find a competent manager.

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