An Arsenal performance full of passion, discipline and intensity gave Mikel Arteta his first win as they dominaned Man Utd 2-0 at the Emirates.
An Arsenal side transformed saw record signing Nicolas pepe score and play a starring role, with Sokratis getting the second in a dominant first half performance against a woeful visiting Manchester United side.
The second half saw another new facet to Arteta's Arsenal as they defended with discipline and enthusiasm as they stifled a toothless Red Devils who once again proved that they just cannot break down a well-drilled defensive unit.
It's been a season of false dawns for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side all season, and so it again proved as following wins over Newcastle and Burnley they threw in another abject display away from home that has been a worrying sympton of their problems.
For Arsenal fans though it felt like a turning point as the Gunners produced a performance they'd yearned for with the energy and desire that's been missing for so long there for all to see. Even the likes of Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil were being cheered for putting in a good shift.
It all added up to Arsenal pulling away from the wrong end of the table, and now sitting just four point behind fifth-placed United who missed another chance to try and push closer to Chelsea.
It was a fast and intense start from Arsenal as they came flying out of the traps and totally dominated proceedings – taking the lead after just eight minutes through big-money signing Pepe.
💥 Arsenal lead!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) January 1, 2020
⚽️ Nicolas Pepe puts the Gunners in front after a fast start against Man Utd#MUFC #AFC #ARSMUN pic.twitter.com/oYo3KRT0aP
Good work down the left saw the ball squared and Pepe was in acres of space as United’s defence floundered and he was able to sweep home an easy opener.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang almost doubled their lead a minute later after more fine work from Pepe down the right wing, and that theme was to continue for the entire first half.
United were second to every ball and second-best in every department as Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira went close before Pepe hit the post after some sloppy play from David De Gea.
A deserved second Arsenal goal came two minutes from half time when a corner caused havoc and Sokratis was there to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
United came out better in the second half but their increased possession looked like it could be by design for Arsenal, who looked content to sit back and play on the break – much like the Red Devils have been doing for most of the season.
Lacazette and Aubameyang both had chances to score on the break as Arsenal looked the more likely side to score with the trap set to catch United in possession and spring forward.
At the other end, Leno was hardly troubled as Arsenal showed a rare appetite for defending and United, as they’ve done all season long, found they couldn’t break down a team who were sitting back in a well-organised defensive shape.
Highlights
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United Opta stats
- Arsenal ended a run of seven home games without a win in all competitions to register their first win at the Emirates since a 3-2 win over Vitória Guimarães in the Europa League in October.
- Manchester United have now lost four of their last five away Premier League visits to Arsenal (W1).
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 home top-flight matches on New Year’s Day (W9 D2), winning their last seven in a row.
- This was Arsenal’s first Premier League win this season against a team currently in the top-half of the Premier League (P10 W1 D4 L5).
- Nicolas Pépé has scored all five of his goals for Arsenal in all competitions in London – four at the Emirates and one at London Stadium.
- Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is the seventh manager to register his first Premier League victory in a game against Manchester United, and the first since Darren Moore in April 2018 with West Brom.
- Arsenal have scored eight goals via corners in the Premier League this season, two more than any other team.
As It Happenend...
⌚ FT ARSENAL 2-0 MAN UTD
Terrific performance from Arsenal and yet more disappointment for Man Utd on their travels - in another toothless display against a team willing to defend. All credit to Arteta and his side though with a performance that we've not seen from the Gunners for some time.
💨 89' AUBA PACE
Aubameyang burns through the United defence on the break but can't quite find Nelson in the box with his centre.
🙏 86' CORNER
Man Utd still banging their heads against a brick wall - they get a corner and need something from it to stand a chance.
🧤 81' SAVE
Ozil is having a great game and always looks dangerous when breaking with the ball - he sets up sub Bukayo Saka this time who forces De Gea into a save.
🤦♂️ 77' CLOSE
Arsenal have another break but Lacazette can't get the ball out of his feet at the crucial point and a great chance is lost.
⛔ 72' NO WAY THROUGH
This is a much-improved defensive effort from Arsenal and they're defending superbly and hardly giving United a sniff despite all the attacking players they have on show. They're also looking dangerous on the break.
🏊♂️ 68' NO PEN, DIVE?
Wan-Bissaka hits the deck in the penalty box looking for a pen but nothing given, replays suggest he's 'playing for it' as they say. Others would just say he'd dived.
💨 61' QUICK BREAK
It's Arsenal playing United at their own game as they launch a quick break and have men over, but Aubameyang can't quite get a shot in at the end of it.
🥅 59' SIDE NETTING
Substitute Andreas Pereira has a few United fans cheering as they think he's sneaked a goal in at the near post from a tight angle on the left, but it's the side netting that's ripplling.
🙌 55' SHOT ON TARGET
Fred forces Leno into making a save with a shot from distance - he's not had too much to do has Leno so that'll at least keep him warm.
52' UNITED BETTER
Much better start from the visitors as they enjoy some early possession - Arsenal seem to be sitting back a bit now in the second half and looking to hit United on the break.
⚽ BACK UNDERWAY
No changes at half time, let's see if Man Utd can improve. They can't be much worse.
⌚ HT: ARSENAL 2-0 MAN UTD
Well you can't say they don't deserve to be two goals up - it should really be a couple more based on how much of the ball Arsenal have had an how many good chances they've created. Work to do for Solskjaer's side who haven't been at the races at all.
⚽ GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 MAN UTD (Sokratis 43)
A deserved second for the rampant Gunners and it comes from a corner that is almost flicked in on the near post. De gea reacts to palm it down but Sokratis is the first on the scene to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
⚡ 41' JUST NEEDED A TOUCH!
They say centre forwards often put in the best crosses, and Lacazette proves that theory as he curls in a beauty right across the face of goal, just where De Gea can't get it, but sadly for Arsenal neither can Pepe or Aubameyang.
🤦♂️ 37' POST!
It's Pepe again who picks up the ball after a sloppy clearance from De Gea and he curls in a shot that beats the keeper but smacks into the right hand post - and Aubameyang can't get the rebound back into the danger area.
💥 33' JUST WIDE
Torreira is just inches wide as he twirls on the edge of the box and fires in with David De Gea scrambling down to his left. Not sure he was getting there if it was on target.
🙆♂️ 32' HUGE CHANCE!
Lacazette rolls Maguire, who is far too tight on him and the Frenchman wriggles free eight yards out but goes for the toe-bunt and it slices wide from pretty much point blank range. Should've done better.
😡 29' MAGUIRE FRUSTRATED
Arsenal playing out from the back confidently and Harry Maguire has had enough as he brings Ozil down. It just about sums up what United's players must be feeling right now.
25' ACROSS THE FACE
It looks like a funny way to cross from the left from Aubameyang as he channels his inner paul Merson by using the outside of his right boot, but it causes Shaw problems at the far post in another worrying moment for the visitors.
💪 21' ATTACKING INTENT
Arteta has definitely sent his side out to attack, he's picked an attacking side but there's a noticeable intent about the way they're playing and it's certainly working so far.
15' ARSENAL ON TOP
The Gunners having the best of the contest now, first to everything and snapping into tackles leaving United chasing shadows a bit at the moment.
🙆♂️ 10' CHANCE!
Arteta's Arsenal are flying forward and that man Pepe is casuing problems down the right wing, twisting and turning Luke Shaw inside out before crossing for Aubameyang who fires his acrobatic volley high over the bar.
📽 PEPE STRIKES
💥 Arsenal lead!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) January 1, 2020
⚽️ Nicolas Pepe puts the Gunners in front after a fast start against Man Utd#MUFC #AFC #ARSMUN pic.twitter.com/oYo3KRT0aP
⚽ GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 Man Utd (Nicolas Pepe 8)
Lovely goal from Arsenal, involving some good work down the left from Ozil and Pepe swepps the ball home in the middle where he's in acres of space. It wasn't the cleanest of connections but he won't care.
🏃♂️ 6' QUICK BREAK
We got a quick glimpse of the pattern this game could take just now as Arsenal look to pile forward but United pinch it and come flying out on the counter attack. They get a corner but could've been more had Lingard found the right pass.
💥 4' FIESTY START
Sead Kolasinac booked early on as he struggles to handle Daniel James' pace - he's not the only one to be fair. Fred fires in the free kick that Leno fists away acrobatically.
⌚ KICK-OFF
We're underway at the Emirates... And Rashford has a speculative effort after 30 seconds, it's on target which is great news for backers of our Price Boost.
🤝 ALMOST THERE
Teams are out, handshakes are done, ready for kick-off!
🎙 POGBA INJURED
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Paul Pogba has injured his troublesome ankle again - I'd imagine that won't be the headline in tomorrows papers...
📝 ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
🚨 Four changes from Sunday
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 1, 2020
➡️ Sokratis, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Pepe
⬅️ Chambers, Saka, Guendouzi, Nelson#ARSMUN
📝 MAN UTD TEAM NEWS
📋 Here's how we line up for our first match of the decade...#MUFC #ARSMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 1, 2020
Paul Pogba hasn't travelled with the squad tonight...
🔎 THE PREVIEW
Arsenal v Man Utd
It's not the first time this season we've asked if Man Utd have got their act together after a couple of wins, and they're still a tough team to trust away from home as they visit an Arsenal side that played well for the most part against Chelsea, but had individual errors to blame for losing.
A worry for the hosts is that United set up perfectly for the counter-attack and Arsenal have been wide open throughout the season - Mikel Arteta will know this but sorting it out is a different story. There were definitely positive signs against Chelsea though, and if they can replicate that and cut out the mistakes then they could be on to something here.
With doubts around both, perhaps the draw is the way to go, but there is a strong fancy for goals to come in this game and the hosts in particular should get a couple - you just wouldn't want to bet on them keeping them out at the other end.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)
Bet bet: Arsenal to score 2+ goals at 11/10
PRICEBOOST
Thanks to our friends at Sky Bet we've got an exclusive price boost for the game and it involves just a short on target each from these four top player, check it out now.
Click here to back Lacazette, Rashford, Ozil & Aubameyang 1+ shots on target each NOW 13/2
📝 THE TACTICS
We head to the tactics board as Alex Keble runs through the big battles that need winning in this one.
👋 WELCOME
Happy New Year! What a game we've got to finish off the first day of 2020 as two old foes with two young managers collide in north London. So get the last of the chocolates and settle in for what should be a great game.
