Arsenal’s set-piece coach played a crucial role in inflicting a first defeat on Manchester United under Ruben Amorim. Two expertly-worked corner routines led to goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, securing a 2-0 victory for Mikel Arteta’s side. Despite the loss, United sits just three points behind Nottingham Forest in the final European spot. Manchester United’s players were rated by SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield, with Andre Onana receiving a 5 for failing to command his area, Diogo Dalot earning a 6 for his performance, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire both impressing, Noussair Mazraoui looking comfortable, and Tyrell Malacia struggling before being substituted at halftime.
Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Hojlund also received ratings. Ugarte was booked and struggled to make an impact, Fernandes played in a deeper role and couldn’t exert his attacking spark, Mount’s experiment as a right winger failed, Garnacho had a quiet game and was substituted for Marcus Rashford, and Hojlund battled well but lacked chances to score. Substitutes included Amad, Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, and Antony, all receiving ratings based on their performances during the match.
Overall, United struggled to create chances and were dominated by Arsenal’s set-piece tactics. The team lacked creativity and failed to capitalize on opportunities, resulting in a disappointing performance. Despite some individual standout moments, the collective effort fell short, leaving fans frustrated with the lackluster display. The result sees United dropping into the bottom half of the table, highlighting the need for improvement in future matches. The team’s inability to score goals and defend set pieces effectively contributed to their downfall against Arsenal.
The match highlighted the importance of efficient set-piece routines and the need for players to step up and take responsibility on the field. United’s weaknesses were exposed by Arsenal’s tactics, leading to a comfortable victory for the Gunners. As United looks to bounce back from this defeat, they will need to work on their defensive organization and offensive creativity to secure victories in future matches. With the race for European spots heating up, every point is crucial, and United will need to refine their game to compete with the top teams in the league.
