Arsenal could only manage a draw against Manchester United on Wednesday, despite taking the lead twice at Old Trafford in an injury-filled controversy-ridden encounter.
Some described the match as a ‘proper Arsenal-Manchester United clash’ afterwards, but in all honesty, it was more like a classic game against Stoke City. Arsenal players went down all game thanks to rough and sometimes dangerous challenges, leading to two first-half injuries.
Marcos Rojo should certainly have been sent off for any number of second-yellow-worthy fouls, Marouane Fellaini bizarrely avoided any kind of card after pulling Matteo Guendouzi’s hair, and United’s first goal should have been disallowed for offside.
The fans booed Guendouzi for getting injured and the main tactic employed by the home side was crossing it in and playing long balls. It was your standard Arsenal encounter against Stoke.
Nonetheless, Unai Emery’s side managed to at least take a point, gaining on Chelsea and leaving United eight points behind. Let’s have a look at our individual player ratings for the match.
4Substitutes
Stephan Lichtsteiner 7
It’s hard to remember many games where Lichtsteiner has actually played in the position he was signed to play in (right-back). On this occasion, he had to fill in at centre-back, and he did a pretty good job under the circumstances, particularly in the air, where he won all of his aerial duels against a tall and physical United side.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan 6.5
Like Lichtsteiner, Mkhitaryan came on thanks to an injury rather than for tactical reasons. The Armenian international hasn’t been in great form recently, so it was good to see him setting up Lacazette as Arsenal took the lead in the second half.
Mkhitaryan set Torreira up for a great chance late on, and he scored an excellent goal immediately afterwards, which was ruled out for offside. Unfortunately, he did also miss a bit of a sitter to make it 3-2 from an onside position.
Alexandre Lacazette 7.5
Lacazette came on in the 65th minute and by the 68th he’d given Arsenal the lead. The goal will likely go down as an own-goal in the official stats since the Frenchman appeared to kick Rojo’s foot into the ball. Although, it may have taken a touch off Lacazette’s leg on the way through. It doesn’t really matter either way.
Lacazette also made a couple of tackles and showed a few nice pieces of hold-up play as he always does.