Premier League 2018/19: Manchester United vs Arsenal

Manchester United vs Arsenal used to be one of the blockbuster fixtures of the Premier League calendar, but both clubs struggles in recent years have downgraded this game somewhat.

Nevertheless, it remains an important game in the Premier League fixture calendar, and both teams respective campaigns so far added some intrigue to proceedings. United were on a run of three games without a win in the league, while Arsenal were unbeaten for 19 games in all competitions. Many football betting tips suggested that Arsenal would go to Old Trafford and continue that unbeaten run.

Unai Emery had gained a lot of praise for his tactics and substitutions in the 4-2 derby win over Tottenham, while Jose Mourinho was struggling to get anything resembling a cohesive performance out of his team. It was set up for a fascinating encounter between two contrasting sides, and while the game was decided through individual errors, it was an entertaining one nonetheless.

Lineups:

Mourinho stuck to the back three he deployed against Southampton, with Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo flanking Chris Smalling, while in midfield, Paul Pogba was dropped from the XI, with Ander Herrera partnering Nemanja Matic. Diogo Dalot and Matteo Darmian were the wing-backs, and another big-money signing in Romelu Lukaku also returned to the bench, as Mourinho trusted Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial up front.

Lingard helps United start brightly

One of the biggest issues with Manchester United this season has been their passivity on and off the ball. They remain one of the only top-level sides in Europe to not employ some form of pressing off the ball, while there is a lack of movement in possession. Therefore, the start to the game at Old Trafford came as a bit of a surprise, with United showing intensity and initiative, and Arsenal looking increasingly flustered and erratic on the ball. Key to this was Jesse Lingard  he repeatedly found space between the lines, and kept Uniteds passing tempo high through quick one-touch layoffs 

Arsenal struggled in the opening quarter of the match, as their midfield was repeatedly caught out of position. Both Guendozi and Torreira were guilty of pushing too far up the pitch at times, which allowed the likes of Lingard and Herrera to find space behind them. Given that Lingard was drifting into central positions to create overloads, one of the two Arsenal midfielders should have stayed deeper, or one of the centre-backs should have picked him up. Nonetheless, this spell of United pressure failed to create a breakthrough.

Arsenal attack down the left

Uniteds right-hand flank would have been considered vulnerable when the team-sheets were released, with rookie Diogo Dalot playing as the wing-back. Eric Baillys was Uniteds right-sided centre-back, and while on form he is the best defender at the club, this was his first Premier League appearance since October. The Gunners emphasis on attacking down their left flank can be seen in their heat map from the match