United Beyond Manchester

Match Flow

Arsenal were on top for the entirety of the first half, out-possessing Manchester United 68 to 32 percent and outshooting the Reds six to two.

Despite the performance, the Gunners could not make their dominance count, and the Reds made them pay.

Against the run of play and out of seemingly nothing, Manchester United took the lead in first-half stoppage time. A lapse in concentration by Arsenal allowed Alejandro Garnacho the space to run at the Arsenal defense and he was fouled by Leandro Trossard.

The ensuing free-kick was masterfully struck by Bruno Fernandes, who got the ball up and over the tall Arsenal wall and beat David Raya with stunning accuracy to give his side the lead heading into the half.

United nearly doubled the lead through Noussair Mazraoui eight minutes after the break. Great hold-up play from Joshua Zirkzee sprang Diogo Dalot free on the left side. The Portuguese wing back found Mazraoui brilliantly, but his well-controlled volley was met by the outstretched leg of Raya and turned behind for a corner kick.

As the pressure began to mount on Andre Onana’s goal, Arsenal leveled in the 73rd minute through Declan Rice. Jurrien Timber was allowed to work his way into the United penalty area and lay the ball back to Rice, who was afforded far too much space, to dispatch a strike into the far corner.

David Raya preserved the visitors’ point in the waning moments of the second half. The Spanish goalkeeper saved an initial effort from Bruno Fernandes and was able to recover and slap the ball away from the goalmouth as it spun towards his net.

Bruno’s chance was the final opportunity of the match and it ended all square.

Talking Point

When Ruben Amorim’s team is pressured, the midfield starts to drop. In itself, that is fine, but in matches like today, the players can get caught too deep. Multiple times before Rice’s leveler, Martin Odegaard and Rice were given space to strike near the top of the box as the midfield dropped inside the area.

Eventually, it cost United, as Rice was given the space to fire and score by Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the second half. With matches against top opposition like Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa remaining, Amorim will need his midfielders to be cognizant of their defensive positioning when defending deep.

Next Match

Manchester United host the second leg of the Europa League Round of 16 on Thursday. Real Sociedad visit with the tie level at one and a place in the Quarterfinals up for grabs.