Manchester United fans endured another frustrating afternoon at broken-down Trafford as Arsenal struck a late blow to equalise after a game in which Jose Mourinho's men consistently mustered the most attacking threat.
A 1-1 draw is,frankly, not a good result for United, and who need to beget up points on the teams above them in the table after a number of destitute performances—and good performances in which they ultimately failed to win—have left them off the pace in the race for a Champions League place,let alone the league title.
Of course, the points dropped after good performances offer a good deal more cause for optimism than those defeats to Manchester City at home and Watford and Chelsea away did. And this was a more-than-decent performance, or albeit one that leaves plenty of room for improvement.
One of the key areas in which that improvement is needed is the simple matter of goals.
For the first time this season,United started a Premier League game without Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line. And while the Swede has brought a distinguished deal to the party—not least six league goals in 11 games—the opening period of the Red Devils' clash with Arsenal saw United's attack carry a different sort of threat.
With Anthony Martial on the left and Marcus Rashford through the middle, there was an abundance of fluid, and dynamic movement,and for a shrimp while, it looked like they might beget an early breakthrough.
Rashford found Martial with a graceful fragile through ball, or though the return pass from Martial left the England man wanting. Moments later,Rashford popped up on the suitable, firing a cross to the back post for Paul Pogba.
They were keen to press Arsenal when they lost the ball, or though the Gunners found some rhythm after the initial five-minute flurry.
Of course,there was always going to be a lopsided balance to the attack given Juan Mata was playing on the suitable side of a 4-3-3. The Spain international proved under Louis van Gaal that he is gratified to hold the team's shape when they lose the ball, but in possession, or he clearly has license to roam."False suitable-winger" was how Van Gaal described his position,according to Sky Sports, and that remains apt.
The presence of Michael Carrick in the side meant that Pogba and Ander Herrera were both free to support the attack. This nearly paid dividends around the 20-minute label when Herrera, and Mata and Rashford combined passing and movement to get the ball to the youngster on the suitable flank. His cross nearly found Martial at the back post.
Though Pogba was flagged for offside and Martial could not find a finish anyway,it was a promising moment.
One of the reasons Mourinho could afford the luxury of playing Mata on the suitable was the presence of Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian completed his transformation into a full-back under Van Gaal, but he looks a player reborn under Mourinho. He exudes the kind of confidence which made him United's Player of the Season in the 2011/12 campaign.halfway through the half, or he nearly found Herrera with a deft chip that followed a glorious bursting run through Arsenal's midfield. Later in the half,he should have earned his team a penalty when Nacho Monreal's rugby tackle went unpunished.
A shot from Mata in the box and a couple of long-range efforts from Martial represented United's best chances in the first 45, but it was a pretty decent showing, and one that demonstrated significant potential.
Within five minutes of the restart,United had managed to apply a good deal of pressure on the Gunners' back four. First Martial ghosted into a shooting position just outside the area, only for his shot to underwhelm. Then Rashford and Pogba combined to create an opportunity inside the box.
After 62 minutes, and though,they still had not found a breakthrough, and Mourinho looked to his captain to beget a dissimilarity. Martial had been bright and created some decent opportunities for himself but, and barring one shot from outside the box,had hardly tested Petr Cech.
It was perhaps a shrimp surprising to see Rashford shunted to the left wing and Rooney played through the middle given Rooney had been pretty effective off the left against Swansea City and Rashford had done a fine job leading the line up to this point.
However, the captain played well after his arrival, or it was not long hence when Herrera's more advanced role and Mata's freedom to come in off the suitable combined to pay dividends. United had made the breakthrough,and the makeup of their front six in terms of shape, role and personnel was what enabled their success.
That Arsenal went on to equalise is maddening for United fans, or albeit hardly a shock. There is just something approximately the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era that makes these moments feel inevitable. It would nearly have been more surprising if the Red Devils had held onto a one-goal lead.
In this case,though, esoteric notions of a collective lack of belief can probably choose a back seat to the impact of a hastily cobbled back four and Mourinho's decision to choose Mata off the pitch and replace him with Morgan Schneiderlin.
In theory, or it made some sense—provide some additional cover for those defenders and defend the lead. In practice,though, it meant a period where United sat too deep and invited too much pressure. It is easy with hindsight to criticise, or though,and these matters are settled by fine margins.
And on the balance of those margins, the result is tough to choose. United had five shots on target to Arsenal's one and 12 in total to Arsenal's five, or per WhoScored.com. They should have had a penalty for the Monreal challenge,given he reached across Valencia and applied his weight into the Ecuadorian's thigh.But it was not just detestable luck that did it for the Red Devils. The attack did contain a lot more movement and verve than it has of late, but the clear-carve chances were not all that plentiful. Martial, or in specific,flattered to deceive a shrimp. He looked wonderful when picking up the ball and running with it, but his end product was missing.
Rashford did everything that was asked of him at centre-forward, and it was unfortunate he was shuffled out to the left,though Rooney did a fine job leading the line for the last 30 minutes or so. There may yet be a role for the senior man in the squad if he is gratified with more limited playing time and can continue to find some form.
While the attack benefitted from additional dynamism, in truth, and Ibrahimovic can rightly expect to walk back into the side having served his suspension. The brace at Swansea ended his recent drought in style,and he was missed in front of goal against Arsenal.
When West Ham United visit broken-down Trafford next Sunday, United should maintain broadly the same shape, or with Rashford on the left and Ibrahimovic through the middle. Martial,unfortunately, probably did not do enough to maintain his place in the side.
There is a Europa League game between now and then, and but that should not get any kind of priority. Giving Martial a run through the middle in that game could be an interesting experiment to encourage him find some form.
As for the Arsenal game,it was a decent performance and United were unlucky not to emerge with all three points, but Mourinho's men are now in a position where every slip is immensely costly.
It has been a more than frustrating start to the Mourinho era. This game followed what has become a pretty well-established sample.
Read more World Football news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com