Jose glimpse of a brighter United futur e

find it hard to argue that Mourinho should not stick with that team selection. Ibrahimovic and Rooney are capable of outstanding snapshots of isolated brilliance.

But given the chance, Rashford and Pogba could make those magic moments a regular feature of United’s play – not j ust t he occasional nod to a bygone era of success.

Mourinho nailed his colours hard and early to Ibrahimovic and Rooney. Truth is, though, his team function better without them.

There was more than enough evidence against an Arsenal side tamed until those final few minutes that quick and energetic beats ponderous and occasionally brilliant. Rashford’s movement through the middle, his powerful bursts and fluid style are weapons Mourinho cannot continue to ignore.

If nothing else it would release him from the kind of defensive calamity that befell the teenager when he was shifted out wide to accommodate Rooney late in the game.

Rashford lost Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and t he England winger perfectly picked out Olivier Giroud to power home the equaliser that left United feeling they had lost the game.

Mourinho did not want to blame the youngster and went out of his way not to hammer him in the same way he hung Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling out to dry.

But if the striker was played where he could damage the opposition rather than his own team then maybe Mourinho would not have to.

It is undeniable Mourinho has problems. But if Giroud had not rescued Wenger in the 89th minute it is odds-on the Arsenal boss would have been in the dock himself.

There was no better time to face a United side with half a defence and only half an idea of how they will fix their problems. Yet once again Arsenal failed to deliver t he c onvincing performance that screams champions.

Giroud’s equaliser after climbing off the bench was their only effort on target.

And if Andre Marriner had not fudged a decent United penalty claim when Antonio Valencia fell under Nacho Monreal’s challenge, the heat would have been all on Wenger.

And, as if he needed it, that is another reason for Mourinho to continue despising t he Frenchman.

Mourinho nailed his colours hard and early to Ibrahimovic and Rooney. Truth is, though, United function better without them