Match Day Thread Manchester United vs Arsenal - Matchday Thread

[BrunelGunner]

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Venue: Old Trafford
KO: 20:15 GMT
Date: Thursday 2nd December 2021

Overall Record

Wins: 85
Draws: 50
Losses: 99

Last six meetings:

Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United (FA Cup)

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Team News:

TBC
​

 

[PINKIE]

We've got an atrocious record at OT over the last decade, although we did manage to win there last season.

Utd have been ****ing gash this season under Ole, but the last couple of games they've shown a bit more steel and look tighter defensively. They will be a bit of an unknown quantity with Rangnick coming in, who will only have had a few days with them. I expect he'll set them up similarly to how they have been until he can get an idea of how he wants to use their players, so we should be able to predict what type of game they will play.

As for us, I think we just need to keep doing what we have been doing and we should be able to get a result up there. The only thing that concerns me at the moment is the form of Aubameyang. He's not really cutting it for us atm and whilst I think he should start, I don't think Arteta should wait until the 80th min to bring Martinelli on if Auba isn't producing on Thurs. Also as well as Tavares has been playing, I'd be tempted to bring Tierney back in for this one as he's got some big game experience and will be a bit tighter defensively .

Whatever happens, we need to make sure we don't lose this one. We've already lost at Stamford Bridge, Etihad and Anfield this season and they were heavy defeats. If we're going to push an and make a challenge for 4th (along with Utd) then this is one we need to be taking at least a point from.

 

[BrunelGunner]

We've got an atrocious record at OT over the last decade, although we did manage to win there last season.

Utd have been ****ing gash this season under Ole, but the last couple of games they've shown a bit more steel and look tighter defensively. They will be a bit of an unknown quantity with Rangnick coming in, who will only have had a few days with them. I expect he'll set them up similarly to how they have been until he can get an idea of how he wants to use their players, so we should be able to predict what type of game they will play.

As for us, I think we just need to keep doing what we have been doing and we should be able to get a result up there. The only thing that concerns me at the moment is the form of Aubameyang. He's not really cutting it for us atm and whilst I think he should start, I don't think Arteta should wait until the 80th min to bring Martinelli on if Auba isn't producing on Thurs. Also as well as Tavares has been playing, I'd be tempted to bring Tierney back in for this one as he's got some big game experience and will be a bit tighter defensively .

Whatever happens, we need to make sure we don't lose this one. We've already lost at Stamford Bridge, Etihad and Anfield this season and they were heavy defeats. If we're going to push an and make a challenge for 4th (along with Utd) then this is one we need to be taking at least a point from.

The Chelsea game we lost was unfortunately at The Emirates, not Stamford Bridge.

In fairness, our recent record against Man Utd is quite decent.

They've not beaten us in the league since 2017/18. We've managed 2 draws and 1 win at Old Trafford in the last 3 seasons.

Completely agree that we can't lose this game. Chelsea, City and Liverpool all beat us comprehensively, so we don't want to be adding another 'Big Six' team to that.

This might sound a bit 'small time' of me to say, however, I would definitely take a draw. A win would be fabulous, but a draw away against a resurgent Man Utd team with lots of attacking talent wouldn't be the worst result. And it doesn't entirely halt our momentum either.

 

[PINKIE]

The Chelsea game we lost was unfortunately at The Emirates, not Stamford Bridge.

In fairness, our recent record against Man Utd is quite decent.

They've not beaten us in the league since 2017/18. We've managed 2 draws and 1 win at Old Trafford in the last 3 seasons.

Completely agree that we can't lose this game. Chelsea, City and Liverpool all beat us comprehensively, so we don't want to be adding another 'Big Six' team to that.

This might sound a bit 'small time' of me to say, however, I would definitely take a draw. A win would be fabulous, but a draw away against a resurgent Man Utd team with lots of attacking talent wouldn't be the worst result. And it doesn't entirely halt our momentum either.

It would also stop the gaining ground on us

And yeah, forgot that we got done at home by the Chavs, we've still got to go to SB ...

 

[TheBear]

I feel like we're bit unlucky with the timings of these games.

Liverpool before the int break would have been better (they were on a poor run and we were in good form)

Now United have a new interim manager - players looking to prove themselves. Again potentially makes it harder.

 

[BrunelGunner]

FT. 3-2.

Very difficult result to take. United weren’t special and, with a bit more control/composure, we could have won that. But we leave OT with 0 points after a limp display.

Unfortunately, we self-sabotaged entirely and questions about Arteta’s managerial competence continue.

Aubameyang, Elneny, Partey and Odegaard - our most senior players - were the worst ones on the pitch.

Aubameyang has to be dropped, he’s been horrific for ages now and contributes absolutely nothing if he isn’t scoring (which he isn’t).

Also, it’s extremely concerning that, after nearly two full years in the job, Arteta can’t coach coherent attacking patterns of play or build-up.

Losing to Chelsea, City and Man Utd isn’t entirely unexpected, as they are all better than us man-for-man, but we need to start picking up points in some of these games. Otherwise we have no chance of challenging for top-4.

 

[TheBear]

Ok A few thoughts.

Firstly all our experienced players let us down and have done so repeatedly for the last few Seasons.

Whenever we have a big game we look to Smith Rowe, Saka, Martnelli and Odengaard to make the difference. Today was the same...

Aubameyang ****ing timid and invisible - AGAIN! Seriously what does this guy neeed to do to get dropped?!.
Lacazette - energy as always, inconistent as always.
Elneny - Way below the standard. Effort is great, ability is well.. not there.
Partey - Has soo much quality but HOW many of our goals this Season have come from Partey errors?.. AlOT.


The recruitment for this Club needs to realise its not just about signing players of a certain type - You need character, leadership.
Stop signing these mental midgets!

Saka, Tomi, Ramsdale, ESR, Odengaard, Martinelli, Tierney, Tavarez have all been great and will all get better.

 

[PINKIE]

Utd were there for the taking in that first half

We folded in the 2nd

although we should also have had a pen when slab head pulled Tomiyasu down.

VAR chose to ignore that one.

 

[Quilllogic]

FT. 3-2.

Very difficult result to take. United weren’t special and, with a bit more control/composure, we could have won that. But we leave OT with 0 points after a limp display.

Unfortunately, we self-sabotaged entirely and questions about Arteta’s managerial competence continue.

Aubameyang, Elneny, Partey and Odegaard - our most senior players - were the worst ones on the pitch.

Aubameyang has to be dropped, he’s been horrific for ages now and contributes absolutely nothing if he isn’t scoring (which he isn’t).

Also, it’s extremely concerning that, after nearly two full years in the job, Arteta can’t coach coherent attacking patterns of play or build-up.

Losing to Chelsea, City and Man Utd isn’t entirely unexpected, as they are all better than us man-for-man, but we need to start picking up points in some of these games. Otherwise we have no chance of challenging for top-4.

Arteta seems to have the same misplaced loyalty to out of form players just like Wenger used to.
Why the heck he keeps playing Aubameyang is one of lifes complete mysteries.
He has offered very little since getting his mega contract and if he was sold we really would not miss him.
Don't know why we are paying a 33 year old £13 million per year when he can't do the job he is paid for.
We should be giving younger players like Martinelli a real chance to establish themselves.

 

[BrunelGunner]

Arteta seems to have the same misplaced loyalty to out of form players just like Wenger used to.
Why the heck he keeps playing Aubameyang is one of lifes complete mysteries.
He has offered very little since getting his mega contract and if he was sold we really would not miss him.
Don't know why we are paying a 33 year old £13 million per year when he can't do the job he is paid for.
We should be giving younger players like Martinelli a real chance to establish themselves.

Last year, you could excuse Aubameyang having one bad year, especially with COVID, getting Malaria and his family issues.

But this year, there's no excuses. He does nothing if he isn't scoring and I think he's not suited to Arteta's style of play at all.

We were linked heavily to Calvert-Lewin after the FT whistle at Old Trafford and it's not hard to see why.

 

[Sucky]

Shoulda had a pen for maguires dragging down of tomiyasu?

Some exciting players at arsenal, saka obviously, Martinelli looks sharp and eager, smif row and the keeper although hes a bit hollywood at times.

Started well but seemed to fade in the 2nd half for some reason, i was hoping youd really go for them after an encouraging start to the game but you seemed to slowly sit back more as it went on.

Would deffo take saka & Martinelli at Liverpool if were playin football manager.

 

[TheBear]

I feel like if we would have treated this game like it was Burnley or Newcastle we were playing we would have won quite comfortably.

I feel like we will probably bottle the Top four spot as we loose every big game.

 

[BrunelGunner]

Started well but seemed to fade in the 2nd half for some reason, i was hoping youd really go for them after an encouraging start to the game but you seemed to slowly sit back more as it went on.

This is something that has been an issue for a long time now. It happens far too much and, especially when you're up against teams with star quality in attack, dropping further back gives the opposition more license to attack.

Arteta has made it clear in post-match interviews that he's not instructing the players to do this, yet we see them do it every single game. So, either the players are incapable of doing what he wants or they're not listening to him. In any case, it's not a good sign.

 

[BrunelGunner]

Also, it's ironic that we always talk about our team being very young, that we should expect fluctuations and expecting that there will be ups/downs throughout the season etc, when it's our senior players letting us down every week.

If we even had a semi-competent striker yesterday, and a midfielder better than Partey, it's highly unlikely we lose that match.

 

[cini65]

Also, it's ironic that we always talk about our team being very young, that we should expect fluctuations and expecting that there will be ups/downs throughout the season etc, when it's our senior players letting us down every week.

If we even had a semi-competent striker yesterday, and a midfielder better than Partey, it's highly unlikely we lose that match.

Come on... Partey is very good. He hasn't got a decent partner so it's just him covering the entire centre of the pitch and trying to do everything. No idea why Lokonga was dropped yesterday given he's actually looked good. But if we had someone like BIssouma in there next to Partey we'd be far stronger.

Back five, Partey, ESR and Saka are sorted. But we really need to give Martinelli the chance now to become our next ESR and Saka. Give him a run of 10-15 games starting every one. Right now for the next month or so I'd play ESR, Saka, Martinelli and Pepe with Martinelli up top. Vlahovic and Bissouma (or someone else like Kessie). And then Arteta really has to start getting them to deliver as almost the entire team would then be 'his'.

However, 4th spot is still very much achievable this year. Only three teams are genuinely better than us.

 

[TheBear]

Come on... Partey is very good. He hasn't got a decent partner so it's just him covering the entire centre of the pitch and trying to do everything. No idea why Lokonga was dropped yesterday given he's actually looked good. But if we had someone like BIssouma in there next to Partey we'd be far stronger.

Back five, Partey, ESR and Saka are sorted. But we really need to give Martinelli the chance now to become our next ESR and Saka. Give him a run of 10-15 games starting every one. Right now for the next month or so I'd play ESR, Saka, Martinelli and Pepe with Martinelli up top. Vlahovic and Bissouma (or someone else like Kessie). And then Arteta really has to start getting them to deliver as almost the entire team would then be 'his'.

However, 4th spot is still very much achievable this year. Only three teams are genuinely better than us.

Yeah I agree with all that, Lokonga over Elneny everyday.

Only thing I would say with Partey is he has a tendency to get caught in possession so he works a lot better next to a deep lying playmaker/DM.

 

[BrunelGunner]

Come on... Partey is very good. He hasn't got a decent partner so it's just him covering the entire centre of the pitch and trying to do everything. No idea why Lokonga was dropped yesterday given he's actually looked good. But if we had someone like BIssouma in there next to Partey we'd be far stronger.

The Partey from Atletico Madrid was very good. The Partey at Arsenal has been riddled with injuries, inconsistency and very few top-class displays. Let's be totally real here - he hasn't been a successful signing so far.

Elneny isn't good enough and, in 2021, has no business being at Arsenal, let alone starting - but he was better than Partey yesterday. He even made more forward passes than Partey yesterday, which speaks volume.

I agree Lokonga shouldn't have been dropped, but I don't think we can keep giving Partey a free pass. He was shocking yesterday and patience is wearing thin.

 

[TheBear]

The Partey from Atletico Madrid was very good. The Partey at Arsenal has been riddled with injuries, inconsistency and very few top-class displays. Let's be totally real here - he hasn't been a successful signing so far.

Elneny isn't good enough and, in 2021, has no business being at Arsenal, let alone starting - but he was better than Partey yesterday. He even made more forward passes than Partey yesterday, which speaks volume.

I agree Lokonga shouldn't have been dropped, but I don't think we can keep giving Partey a free pass. He was shocking yesterday and patience is wearing thin.

Na thats not true he's been mis-managed. You can tell he's the best midfeilder at the Club (Xhaka included)

He comes straight back from injuries immediately into the side.

If youve ever had a knee or ankle ligament issue you would know - it's takes months for your body to really trust the joint again.

Even once the actual damage has healed. I think if he was eased back into the side slower we wouldnt have seen reoccurance of said problems either.

I dont think Lokonga was brought in to play alogside Partey - he's competition for the same spot. I think we will see another Xhaka/deep plying playmaker type also brought in the next 12 months.

 

[BrunelGunner]

Na thats not true he's been mis-managed. You can tell he's the best midfeilder at the Club (Xhaka included)

He comes straight back from injuries immediately into the side.

If youve ever had a knee or ankle ligament issue you would know - it's takes months for your body to really trust the joint again.

Even once the actual damage has healed. I think if he was eased back into the side slower we wouldnt have seen reoccurance of said problems either.

I dont think Lokonga was brought in to play alogside Partey - he's competition for the same spot. I think we will see another Xhaka/deep plying playmaker type also brought in the next 12 months.

I feel like too many fans are reluctant to label him a flop because of his reputation and because he's shown what he's capable of in glimpses. If you or anyone is being totally objective about it, he hasn't been a success so far. That's not up for debate.

He's the most talented midfielder we have, sure. But no point having talent if you're not showing it when it matters.

If he's still suffering from the side effects of those ligament injuries, he shouldn't be starting every game and should be managed better.

 

[cini65]

The Partey from Atletico Madrid was very good. The Partey at Arsenal has been riddled with injuries, inconsistency and very few top-class displays. Let's be totally real here - he hasn't been a successful signing so far.

He was riddled with them up to a point but has started 9 of the last 10 games so he's starting to get back to being reliable again.

Elneny isn't good enough and, in 2021, has no business being at Arsenal, let alone starting - but he was better than Partey yesterday.

Subjective. I thought Elneny was ****e yesterday and Partey was on his own.

I agree Lokonga shouldn't have been dropped, but I don't think we can keep giving Partey a free pass. He was shocking yesterday and patience is wearing thin.

Again, shocking is subjective and he didn't stand out as being poor from what I saw. Only Aubameyang stood out as being utterly pointless the entire game. He almost looks embarrassed to be picked up front. That miss when he was marginally offside was ludicrous. Anyway, almost the entire team from the ESR goal on 11mins to Ronaldo's first goal in the 52nd minute were rubbish. All dropping far too deep, not keeping the ball. The entire lot were ****e . From 55 onwards it was a bit better and a 50/50 game. Except for Auba who remained ****e. And Elneny who is a steaming, festering turd of a footballer.