Arsenal take Old Trafford with just enough

Sunday afternoon was tinged with nostalgia. Manchester United and Arsenal faced each otherand both in the streets near Old Trafford and in the stands, both fans dedicated themselves to songs from the beginning of the century. Of the fights between Ferguson and Wenger’s teams. Of the disputes between Vieira and Keane. The Londoners were in charge of reminding their hosts that they won a league title at Old Trafford in 2001. A title that closed a cycle of three consecutive years of success for the Red Devils. The Gunners are willing to repeat the feat, questioning the dominance exerted by the other Manchester giants currently, City. Sunday’s 0-1 score puts them back in the lead.

They looked for the three points from the beginning. Arteta’s men jumped ready to regain the lead and keep the pulse of Guardiola. They found them. They did it. With a goal from Trossard in the 20th minute of a match that, despite its importance both in the race for the title and for the European places, will not go down in history for its attractiveness. Arsenal came out better. Decided. Locking United in their own field, but without having any relevant occasion. Raya had more trouble than Onana. Although not too many. Hojlund slipped in the sixth minute and the ball went wide, and a block neutralized a second arrival from Ten Hag’s team. Fact that affected Arsenal’s self-esteem. His defense was imprecise, nervous. But Casemiro was in charge of reassuring Londoners.

He fell asleep on the break in the 20th minute, allowing Havertz to receive with space behind the rest of the United defence. The German advanced, entered the area and offered the ball to Trossard, who pushed the ball into the net under more than timid pressure from Casemiro.. With the score open, the pace dropped, and we had to wait until the final stretch of the first half for the Mancunians to offer some kind of reaction. They took control, but they didn’t give Raya a job.

Rice almost doubled the lead visitor ten minutes after the restart. Odegaard had feinted to overthrow Amrabat, and Saka and White combined before the English midfielder received from the front. His powerful shot was blocked and the danger was cleared. The initiative once again went to United, with Garnacho as the protagonist. The Argentine started on the left wing on several occasions, but was unable to control his power. There were changes, but the dynamics were kept. Until the final stretch. When the visitors won again, although they failed to extend their lead. Onana avoided it. He first took a powerful shot from Martinelli in the 78th minute, and a little later another tighter one, from Rice. In the end, the three points are worth Arsenal regaining the lead. Follow the pulse. At the same time, United did not hunt down Newcastle and Chelsea, both with 57 points, and are left behind in the race for the European places, with two days remaining.

Follow the Diario AS channel on WhatsApp, where you will find all the sport in a single space: the news of the day, the agenda with the latest news on the most important sporting events, the most outstanding images, the opinion of the best AS firms , reports, videos, and some humor from time to time.