Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal: three games without a win, title hopes fade
In the 28th round of the EPL, Manchester United drew 1-1 with Arsenal at home. This match not only made Arsenal suffer from the embarrassing situation of not winning for three consecutive matches, but also made the situation of their title contention even more serious. Currently, Arsenal is already 15 points behind the leader Liverpool with one game less, almost declaring the end of this season’s title race early.
Match Recap: Highlights and Tactics
At the beginning of the match, both sides showed a strong desire to win. In the 40th minute of the first half, Arsenal’s Trossard knocked down Manchester United’s Garnacho while defending, and the referee decided to award a free kick. The location of the free kick was ideal, not far from the goal and from an excellent angle. United midfielder Bruno Fernandes (B Faye) took the penalty, and he sent the ball directly into the corner of the goal with a precise shot, which Arsenal keeper Raya had no reaction. With this wonderful goal, Manchester United went into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Arsenal intensified their attack and managed to equalize the score in the 74th minute. At that time, Arsenal launched an attack from the right, Timber brought the ball into the penalty area and sent an inverted triangle pass, Rice calmly pushed the goal in the penalty area, equalizing the score for his team. After that, both sides had chances to change the score, but neither United nor Arsenal were able to capitalize on the key chances, and the final score was fixed at 1-1.
Man U’s solid counterattack and Arsenal’s striker crisis
From the tactical level, Manchester United adopted a solid counterattack strategy in this match. This is manager Amorim’s best style of play, and it is also the most certain tactical choice for this current United team. They were quite solid on the defensive end, while using quick counterattacks to create threats. Arsenal, on the other hand, tried to control the rhythm of the game through ball possession and positional attack, but the attacking efficiency was greatly reduced due to the injury plague suffered by the front line and the absence of a number of key strikers.
In the first half of extra time, B fee’s free kick was the highlight of the game. His shot power, angle and arc are perfect, directly into the corner, so that Arsenal goalkeeper Raya can only see the ball into the net. In the second half, Arsenal relied on teamwork to equalize the score, showing their unyielding spirit. However, due to the lack of sufficient finishing ability, the Gunners were never able to overtake the score.
Liverpool are on course to win the title, Arsenal are hopeless.
After this match, Liverpool’s title chances are clearer. In the remaining 9 rounds of the league, Liverpool only need to get 16 points to lock the Premier League title, and even 15 points is basically enough to ensure the title. If Liverpool can complete a six-game winning streak in the coming matches, they will lock up the title before they face Arsenal in the 36th round. By then, Klopp’s men may be able to take it easy at home and enjoy the cheers of their fans.
In contrast, Arsenal’s situation looks a bit bleak. The Gunners’ recent poor form has seen them go three games without a win (two draws and one loss), which has further widened the gap between them and the top of the table. If Arsenal continue to drop points in their upcoming matches, it could further advance Liverpool’s title run. For Arsenal, every game is crucial, and they need to adjust their form as soon as possible to grab all the points in the remaining 10 rounds of matches, while expecting Liverpool to make mistakes.
Despite their slim title hopes, Arsenal still need to fight for the Champions League qualification. Currently, they are still at the top of the table, and as long as they keep playing steadily, a Champions League spot next season should not be a problem. For Liverpool, they are getting closer and closer to their 20th top flight title in team history, and Jurgen Klopp’s team is expected to bring more joy to their fans at the end of the season.
Analysis of both sides’ lineups: price comparison and tactical arrangement
Looking at the starting lineup, United manager Amorim lined up a 3-4-2-1 formation. Zirkser was the single arrow, with Gana Joe and Eriksson providing support behind him; the midfield consisted of Mazrahi, B Faye, Casemiro and Dalot; and the backline was a three-man partnership of Derek De Rijkert, Lindelof and Jolo, with Onana defending the goal. United’s starting lineup is worth a total of 382 million euros.
For Arsenal, Arteta opted for a 4-3-3 formation. On the front line, Trossard, Merino and Nwaneri form a trident; the midfield is organized and dispatched by Rice, Thomas and Ödgö; the back line includes Carafilio, Gabriel, Saliba and Timber, with Raya as the goalkeeper. The total value of Arsenal’s starting lineup is up to 625 million euros, far more than that of Manchester United.
Summary: Man Utd hold on for a draw, Arsenal in need of adjustments
Overall, this matchup between the EPL Big6 is full of attractions and suspense. Man U got a valuable point by virtue of solid defense and efficient counterattack, while Arsenal failed to get all three points due to the lack of striker’s strength although they had more ball possession and shooting chances.
For Manchester United, the draw helps to boost the team’s morale and builds up confidence for the upcoming matches. For Arsenal, how to solve the striker problem will be their top priority in the future. Regardless of the final result, both teams need to give their best in the remaining matches to fight for their respective season goals.
