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ARSENAL’s specialist in set-pieces dealt Ruben Amorim his first loss against Manchester United.
Two flawlessly executed corner strategies resulted in goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, showcasing a commanding display from Mikel Arteta’s squad.
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Conversely, United has fallen back into the lower section of the table, now just three points behind Nottingham Forest, who are holding the final European spot.
Here’s how Lloyd Canfield from SunSport rated the Manchester United players…
ANDRE ONANA – 5
Was lucky early on when a careless pass nearly allowed Gabriel Martinelli to score, only for the linesman to wave it off.
Had trouble establishing dominance in the box as 5’10” Jurrien Timber scored with a jump, which led to Arsenal’s second set-piece goal at the back post.
DIOGO DALOT – 6
Sent a shot just wide at the end of the first half after finally making an advancing run.
Defended adequately but posed more of an attacking threat.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6
Formed a strong partnership with Maguire during the first half, leaving fans hoping for a swift recovery from a minor injury.
Needed to assume a more commanding presence in the box to prevent being beaten by Arsenal during set pieces.
5
HARRY MAGUIRE – 7
Delivered a solid performance in the first half, looking composed and reliable throughout.
Was not at fault for Timber’s header finding the net, before being taken off for Leny Yoro.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Playing as a left-sided center-back, he maintained a calm presence, highlighting the Moroccan’s adaptability.
However, he seemed more effective when played as a left-wing back like Malacia and Dalot.
TYRELL MALACIA – 3
Found it hard physically against Bukayo Saka on the left side and was cautioned for kicking out at Kai Havertz.
Failed to contribute offensively, and his link-up play with Garnacho was nearly non-existent. Substituted at halftime for a more dynamic Amad.
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MANUEL UGARTE – 5
Received a booking early in the game and struggled to make a notable impact on the match.
Did manage to clear a Joshua Zirkzee header from his line, preventing Arsenal from extending their lead shortly after the break.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 4
The match required Bruno Fernandes to take charge, but he failed to find his rhythm.
Played in a deeper role alongside Ugarte, which restricted his offensive contributions.
5
MASON MOUNT – 3
Positioning Mount on the right wing was a gamble from Amorim that echoed a past failed experiment at Chelsea.
He often drifted into the half-space, rendering him ineffective in attack.
Substituted in the second half after a disappointing outing.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 5
Had a quiet first half with only one notable cross, leading to a second half where he was quickly replaced by Marcus Rashford.
On the whole, he was quite subdued.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 6
Showed determination when up against the physicality of William Saliba early in the game, but his teammates struggled to create chances for him.
Frustration was evident throughout the match, which was understandable given the circumstances.
Signing Gyokeres won’t make a difference if the team can’t produce goal-scoring opportunities for him.
5
SUBSTITUTES
AMAD (TYRELL MALACIA, HT) – 5
Exhibited a more direct style and was certainly an improvement over Malacia, even playing on the opposite side.
Despite this, he didn’t manage to deliver the impact that Ruben Amorim hoped for.
MARCUS RASHFORD (MASON MOUNT, 72) – 5
After a series of impressive outings under Amorim, he could not spark any energy against an opponent he’s had good results against recently.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (ALEJANDRO GARNACHO, 72) – 4
After a solid previous performance, he was unable to add any considerable value to the attack in this match.
The closest he came was a header that almost became an own goal.
LENY YORO (HARRY MAGUIRE, 72) – 6
Looked competent as a defender; faced a challenging match but managed to hold his own.
ANTONY (RASMUS HOJLUND, 79) – 5
Participated in an inventive free-kick play late in the game, yet he misplayed his shot, hitting it directly at David Raya.
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