Thread by @pythaginboots

𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝟐-𝟏 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 - 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 [𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝]

➡️ Arteta-Ball dominates
➡️ Do Arsenal's right backs have a purpose?
➡️ Bobby Nketiah
➡️ Rashford aside - Where is the penetration?
➡️ Saka is Arsenal's John Barnes - Shaw abandoned him

#ARSMUN #Arsenal #MUFC

This is not a ETH side... sitting back and hoping for moments of quality, but he is making do with what strengths the squad currently has which at the moment is relying on Rashford to conjure moments of magic as soon as United win the ball back and opponents are in disarray..

As for Arteta, this side looks like it can dominant any fixture it goes into but the litmus test will be facing Man City. If Arteta can dominate proceedings against a Pep side, then you will know just how 'dominant' this style of play truly is. I think they can outrun City...

Nketiah was immense. Considering he's up against a formidable CB duo of Varane & Martinez, he was a handful all game. Brilliant hold up and link up - in the pockets, and then that ability to just carry it for the right amount of time to allow others to join him. Deserved 2 goals.

On his first goal, poor defending from AWB. His stand shows no respect to the threat behind him and Nketiah seiezes on his stance, knowing AWB has no awareness of what is behind him...

Arsenal's right backs worry me in the long term i.e. if they want to compete for a UCL title which is definitely possible for this project. They don't get forward with great quality and they are meant to provide balance i.e. be the Walker... yet they couldn't handle Rashford??

White was nowhere to be seen for Rashford goal, he's run forward too aggressively - unaware his side has lost the ball - his No.1 duty in this game is to keep Rashford -aka United's biggest threat quiet. That demonstrates poor Match IQ IMO.

This led to Saliba defending against 2 runs which then prevented him from getting across to Rashford. In fairness Partey got totally schooled which is not good enough for a player of his standing and he's arguably the biggest culprit but White's positioning destabilises unit.

This is something that will need to be addressed for next season when they face the top European sides. Imagine Mbappe? Vini etc This is definitely an area for concern. They need to sign a top right back prospect and one of Tomi/White needs to be the back up.

United really struggled to penetrate Arsenal outside of Rashford taking the game to the Gunners. Antony offers no powerful progression element when with the ball and thus it keeps going backwards or sideways when he gets it. AWB offers no overlap, so that flank is dead in water.

Saka is the face of Arsenal and he's always been a big game player especially for the National Team. Now he's beginning to stamp his authority on these big club games and his aura today was godly. Shaw didn't want anything to do with him which is scary cause Shaw usually backs...

Himself against anyone 1 v 1. I thought it was a cowardly performance by Shaw and he should have stuck tight to Saka as there was no real fear from the likes of White/Tomi on the overlap so why wouldn't you follow your winger if he's making life hard for Eriksen?

Why is Shaw marking Tomi here? he's not a huge threat. Also why is Eriksen not forcing Saka to go back onto his right - instead he lets him get a run at him and go onto his stronger left foot. Abysmal defending from United here and it deserved to be punished.

Saka for me has the potential to be the GOAT english winger. He is someone who puts fear into the top international sides in the world and I would say unlike a Rashford, his overall game has always screamed top class but it was his ability to impact results which was in question

If he can keep putting in the numbers and keep his general play at a high level, the sky is the limit.