Manchester United-Arsenal used to be the titanic clash of the EPL - the cataclysmic one between the top 2 teams... witness Marc Overmars scoring the winner... Ashley Young for Man Utd... Sylvain Wiltord anyone?
While not hitting the heights in this match this season; this was a thoroughly enjoyable watch nonetheless... particularly in the second half as the match started to catch fire. Man Utd still don't seem to have the strategy needed to compete at this level...with players not staying to a particular grid and (especially Jesse Lingard) seeming to run all over the place and disrupting their structure & rhythm...
They did somehow go ahead before half-time with a stupendous shot from Scott McTominay; after a brilliant counter-attack endorsed by the speedy Daniel James. If Arsenal had rather played within themselves in the first half; it was a different story in the second as they came up with all Gunners blazing...
Their hard work produced the equaliser after a mistake from Man United left-back Axel Tuanzebe; who otherwise was having a very capable game. He carelessly gave the ball away in a dangerous position; allowing Bukayo Saka to release Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with an instinctive first-time ball; for the Gabon striker to clip coolly past David de Gea.
Both sides had chances to win the match; with McTominay in particular for United; and Saka missing a glorious chance for the Gunners. Marcus Rashford; looking short of confidence throughout; also had a nice free-kick well-saved by Bernd Leno late on.
My take for Man Of The Match (MOTM) should be Matteo Guendouzi; I've been observing this guy and he is a tireless presence... long hair flailing; Kenny G style... working every blade of the pitch... I also want to give a shout-out to what seems like Arsenal's coming legion of youngsters... Saka did well on the left-wing... and Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock then came on as subs and look promising...
In the end, both sides will probably be happy with a point in this one
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