Champions League? You’re having a laugh
Gunners blast a hole in United’s top-four hopes as Rangnick gives up the ghost ARSENAL......ARSEN 3 MAN UTD.......
After Granit Xhaka had rifled home a long-ranger to put this game beyond Manchester United, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo had a short talk before the restart.
It was hands-over-the mouth stuff but the looks of disgust on their faces told the story.
How can we call ourselves one of the elite when we are rarely a step away from defensive calamity?
When Erik ten Hag begins his rebuild, it has to start from the back.
This was a scoreline that flattered Arsenal but there is almost always a shambles around the corner for this United team.
When Ten Hag watches a re-run of this match, he will see how United’s faint hopes of securing a Champions League place evaporated in a haze of basic errors.
It is now 51 goals conceded in the
Premier League and that is unacceptable. “The one thing we didn’t do well was defending,” said outgoing boss Ralf Rangnick. “This has been an issue all season.”
Asked if a top-four slot had gone, the German said: “Even before the game it was not very likely but after this result it is gone.”
Alex Telles’ forgettable display included being bruised out of a couple of challenges by Bukayo Saka, hardly cruiserweight in physique.
It was no surprise Telles conceded the penalty that Saka converted to double Arsenal’s lead after Nuno Tavares had scored within 150 seconds of the first whistle.
And that Tavares opener was United’s season in a nutshell. To have one air shot when attempting to clear a cross is unfortunate. To have two – courtesy of Diogo Dalot and Raphael Varane – is careless.
And while David de Gea’s initial save looked flashily good, he should have done better than to serve up a tap-in for Tavares.
That sort of goal highlighted the obvious need for better players.
Harry Maguire had his best game for some time – and did not get off the bench.
But what role can
Cr i s t i a no
Ronaldo play in the new era?
His neat, half-volleyed finish to reduce the arrears was Ronaldo’s 16th Premier League goal of the season and the 100th of his career.
Perhaps he should have taken the penalty that Bruno Fernandes rolled against the post to blow a big chance for the equaliser.
Every United miss seems to be followed by punishment and after Xhaka had dished it out, Ronaldo and Sancho could only mutter to each other and shake their heads. The Emirates also shook with noise and Arsenal are now bang in the hunt for a top-four finish after beating Chelsea and United within a week. Boss Mikel Arteta said: “It was a crucial game. We wanted to win again and we knew how important our fans would be with their energy.”