It was with some surprise that I saw the first half of yesterday’s game.

I didn’t expect so much from Man United, honestly.

Or I expected a lot more from Arsenal, perhaps.

Although the 2nd half showed less Man United and more Arsenal, in terms of game played, the difference was never abysmal.

As it should be.

Arsenal betting its chips on Set Pieces is reductive for a quality team, it seems to me.

And it seemed to me that Arteta was clearly alert, nervous and simultaneously anxious about these moments in the Game.

They know that they are clearly strong at the moment and create blocking movements that are only allowed in the Premier League.

They play with the rules of the system, it’s part of it.

Or, maybe I’m just being unfair and biased.

Man United, on the other hand, had more ball possession in the 1st half, but never managed to create many dangerous situations.

The defensive part is clearly being improved, especially in the first phase of pressure when Rasmus Højlund is on the field, but the offensive part still needs to serious improvements. 

The use of the back pass happens regularly and, with time, it will improve and athletes will feel more comfortable finding better positioned colleagues.

In fact, there is still some discomfort on the part of some players regarding the style of play that is  necessary for the game to flow in a better way. 

Namely the players at the front, who serve (often, in this system) as connecting bridges so that the game is played with the ball in the front by the midfielders and wingers, allowing the forwards to receive the ball also from the front, but in a second phase and closer to the goal.

As examples, see the first goal conceded, which came from a childish ball lost by Garnacho, the number of balls lost by Zirkzee, etc.

Not to mention the origin of the second goal conceded, in Rashford’s attempt to make a bicycle kick and which ends up giving Arsenal FC another corner…

Anyway, it will take time (and money, as I mentioned so much here) for us to watch the “playing with their eyes closed” that Amorim spoke many times before of his athletes at Sporting CP.

Finally, some loose notes: 

Harry Maguire had a very positive debut (under Ruben Amorim).

De Ligt and Mazraoui are getting better and better at knowing what they need to do under Ruben.

Ugarte, in this system, is an absolute star.

Bruno will be suffering (a lot), until reinforcements arrive for the midfield duo. The team needs its quality closer to the area, with greater offensive freedom, but for now, the need to have another element to help Ugarte is fundamental in its balance.

Højlund has a golden opportunity to become a very serious case. And he seems to understand that clearly, as he’s trying really hard.

Garnacho, Mason Mount, Zirkzee are good players, but they would not be starters in any big team and, therefore, they should not have space in Manchester United’s starting 11.

Lastly, Rashford.

Not being a talent on a global scale, it is a different case.

At the moment, despite the goals he has scored, clearly forced by Amorim’s way of playing, with so many players inside the box when attacking the last third, he is a player who seems clearly disinterested.

Yesterday, for example, there were no moments in which, during the construction phase (even if it was carried out in more advanced spaces on the field), any of the forward centers forced their position wide on the side, giving interior spaces to the wingers, be it with Mount- Dalot (or later Mount-Amad) or on the opposite side with Malacia-Garnacho (or later Dalot-Garnacho). 

That is until Rashford entered, who forced this position a few times, therefore forcing Dalot to navigate through interior terrain, where he has shown more difficulties in making use of his good skills and placing him as a playmaker that he is not, so that Rashford itself could be where he thinks he is really good – on the wing facing the defender head on.

However, in 31 minutes on the field, statistics indicate that he tried to dribble and passed ZERO times, made ZERO successful crosses, lost the ball 6 times, had ZERO duels won, and a rate just above 80% of successful passes, almost all backwards.

Ruben saw it.

And right now, that’s mostly it.

Observe and analyze.

Who wants it badly and who doesn’t.

Probably speak up, give opportunities again, and see results.

Or not.

Anyway, overall, I liked Man United more than Arsenal in terms of the game played, Offensive and Defensive Game proposals.

And that’s a shame for Arteta.

Although Football always ends up showing us a reality that we were unaware of, I think it’s difficult for Ruben to lose to Arteta again. 

Or, maybe I’m just being unfair and biased.

The future will tell.