People say we’re officially out of the title but I don’t blame Him,I blame Arteta for starting Him again last night,We have solutions on the bench but Arteta is refusing to use them just because they’re young, Forgetting that Lamine Yamal is 16 and He’s doing great for His club also”, Declan Rice named the ONE Arsenal player that ended their title race chase yesterday – Not Trossard and not Merino
Arsenal dropped points for a third league game in a row as they drew with Manchester United. In what looks like a top four consolidation effort, neither side could find the killer touch when they needed it.
Arsenal had all the dominance and the ball in the first half and missed chances through Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard. The lack of clinical finishing was punished right before half-time as Bruno Fernandes scored directly from a free-kick
David Raya was scrutinised for his role in the goal, however he made up for the error with two saves, the first incredible, to stop Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee from scoring. His efforts were rewarded as Declan Rice brought the Gunners level with a strike from outside the box.
Here is how football.london rated the performances of the Arsenal players:
David Raya – Some excellent distribution under pressure from the Spaniard as we have come to expect from David Raya. However, all his good work was undone when his positioning for the Bruno Fernandes free-kick invited the Portuguese international to dip the ball over the wall and into the net. 8
Jurrien Timber – There has been a real change in the way Jurrien Timber attacks the right flank of late and that continued into the game at Old Trafford. He would turn creator for Rice, driving into the box before cutting the ball back to the edge. 8
William Saliba – Dealt with the threat of Joshua Zirkzee well throughout the game, calm in possession of the ball. 7
Gabriel Magalhaes – Brilliant last-ditch challenge on Alejandro Garnacho to prevent another goalscoring opportunity and then towards the end as he got a touch to prevent a Hojlund chance in the box. 8
Riccardo Calafiori – Not as impactful as he was in the Netherlands, having the chance to get forward often but without much impact. He was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly early in the second period. 6
Thomas Partey – Some good moments from the midfielder who progressed play effectively, as we have come to expect. He was replaced by Kieran Tierney having in a tactical change for the second period. 6
Declan Rice – Constant energy and runs for the likes of Partey and Odegaard, and was nearly found in the box on a couple of occasions but not quite with the right execution. He would, however get the equaliser for the Gunners by instead hanging outside the box, hitting a first-time shot into the bottom left corner. He then produced a goal-preventing challenge in the final ten minutes, stopping Hojlund from scoring. 9
Martin Odegaard – Chances fell to the skipper, both for himself and to create for others but he saw his first shot easily caught by Onana. Saw so much of the ball throughout the game, played the pass to Timber in the build-up for the equaliser. 7
Ethan Nwaneri – Twice guilty inside the first half of giving the ball away to start two Man United counter-attacks. Then stood in an offside position breaking up a promising attack down the right-hand side. He had some bright moments but probably had his biggest struggle so far. 6
Leandro Trossard – Had a great chance to fire a shot toward the far right top corner but sadly missed the target. Made the cynical foul which allowed Fernandes the chance to score. Had a chance midway through the second half to score but dragged the ball wide and did similar but to the other side of the goal toward the end of the game – wasteful on the day. 6
Mikel Merino – Had a great chance inside the opening ten minutes to fire a shot into the corner, but, without much pressure, he dragged the effort wide. Nearly cost Arsenal a goal toward the end, being caught inside his own half. 5
