Arsenal beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a Riccardo Calafiori corner, but the game also highlighted key areas for improvement this season, with Victor Diokeres struggling to make an impact on his debut.
Pictured: Arsenal's Victor Diokeres struggled to make his Arsenal debut.
Arsenal have won just two of their previous eleven games at Old Trafford. Winning their first game at a stadium where they have often struggled is a significant achievement, although not without its own doubts.
Mikel Arteta described it as a “massive” result after the game. “To go out for the first game at Old Trafford in this atmosphere, with this pace, with new players and the excitement around them, it's a fantastic feeling,” he added to Sky Sports.
They have succeeded by playing to their strengths. Riccardo Calafiori’s winner came from a new corner system. “We don’t want to be predictable,” said Arteta. Yet the result was predictable. It was their 31st goal from a corner since the start of the 2023/24 season.
No other team managed to score more than 20 goals during this period.
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Watch the best moments from Arsenal's win over Manchester United
They are second to none in set pieces and remain the Premier League's outstanding defensive team.
Even when they finished 10 points behind Liverpool last season, they conceded seven fewer goals than any other team, another example of their resilience and organisation under pressure.
Of course, they were also indebted to David Raya. He made seven saves in total, including a brilliant intervention on Matheus Cunha in the first half. But few can match Arsenal for the grit and intelligence required in circumstances such as the final 20 minutes at Old Trafford.
“Arsenal are one of the best teams at managing the game and saving time,” Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said in his comments. “They are an experienced team.”
Their experience was put to the test, particularly in the first half when Manchester United newcomers Bryan Mbeumo and Cunha exploited spaces unhindered, but Arsenal responded.
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Gary Neville explains why Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have every reason to challenge for the Premier League title this season
“They really dug in,” Neville added. “They showed great resilience.
Sourse: skysports.com
