Football

Football   |   October 24, 2022

Manchester United Four Straight Wins in a Row

Manchester United continued their hot streak with a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford over Arsenal on Sunday, handing the Gunners their first season loss. Antony scored in his Man United debut after transferring from Ajax days earlier, helping the Red Devils to their fourth consecutive victory.

Marcus Rashford scored a brace to counter Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and win the game for Manchester United. Gabriel Martinelli had a goal disallowed after 14 minutes of play due to a foul against Christian Eriksen in the buildup.

Erik Ten Hag Exclusive Impact at Old Trafford: Ten Hag Is Looking To Put His Stamp at Old Trafford

Controversy, drama, pressure, losses, wins, and one of the world’s top talents’ desire to leave. Three months into his tenure as Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has seen it all. That should get him well on his way to being prepared to face one of the English Premier League’s most legendary matchups, which was sure to be a spectacle once again.

Antony Makes an Instant Impact Despite Controversies for the Big Money Move

Manchester United signed Antony not only for his footballing skills but also for his admirable personality. Antony, the club’s second-most expensive signing ever, has wasted no time proving that he is worth the money by scoring a chip against Aaron Ramsdale from 35 yards, demonstrating his confidence and poise under pressure. The winger, purchased from Ajax on the final day of the transfer window for €100 million, took just 35 minutes to make his Old Trafford debut, putting United ahead, 1-0. 

Antony got his revenge on the Arsenal fans who had booed the 22-year-old after one of his fancy tricks had failed to pay off in front of the opposing team’s fans by putting the ball up his jersey and sticking his thumb in the mouth. Referee Paul Tierney issued a warning for the incident. However, it demonstrated that the Brazilian is not the shy type when the pressure is on. He will add energy and bite to Erick Ten Hag’s squad.

Arsenal’s Disappointment Notwithstanding, the Team Is Making Progress

Even though Manchester United halted Arsenal’s winning streak at Old Trafford, the club hasn’t started a Premier League season with six straight victories since 1947, so Arteta should still take away a lot of positives from the defeat.

Despite his disappointment with the officiating (particularly the decision to nullify Gabriel Martinelli’s opening goal following a VAR review), Arteta’s club was the dominant side for large portions of the game. Arsenal’s 3-1 loss to Manchester United only resulted because United was more effective in front of goals.

Arteta will be concerned that Arsenal’s first actual unbeaten run test of the season resulted in a loss. However, he will also know that his team could have secured at least a draw on another day. Arsenal’s excellent start has pushed them into title discussions even though the team is far from finished.

The Gunners/ ultimate goal of the season is to qualify for four positions in the Premier League, coming so close to doing so last season to secure a spot in the Champion League next season. Despite their loss at Old Trafford, the Gunners still look far more capable of doing so. Even though Arsenal lost in the decisive seconds, Arteta isn’t too down.

Manchester United vs. Arsenal Player Ratings

Manchester United 4-2-3-1 Lineup: David De Gea 7, Tyrell Malacia 7, Diogo Dalot 6, Martinez 7, Raphael Varane 7, Cristian Eriksen 8, Scott McTominay 7, Bruno Fernandes 7, Antony 7, Jadon Sancho 6, and Marcus Rashford 7.

Substitutes: Cristiano Ronaldo 6, Casemiro 6, Fred 6, and Harry Maguire 5.

Arsenal 4-2-3-1 Lineup: Aaron Ramsdale 6, Oleksandr Zinchenko 6, Ben White 6, William Saliba 5, Gabriel Magalhães 5, Granit Xhaka 5, Sambi Lokonga 5, Martin Odegaard 5, Gabriel Martinelli 6, Saka 7, and Gabriel Jesus 6.

Substitutes: Eddie Nketiah 6, Fabio Vieira 6, Emile Smith Rowe 6, and Takehiro Tomiyasu 6.

Phil Jones Requested to Leave Manchester United to Create Room for New Talents and Signings and More Club News

Injury-prone Phil Jones was removed from Man United’s training ground locker room, so there is enough room for Erik ten Hag’s new players. The first-team locker room at the AON Training Complex can fit 24 players after Erik ten Hag’s signings. So, some of the club’s older or less-involved players had to make place for new ones. Jones, being one, had to make way and is currently in the Un-23 changing room with a few others.

The Red Devil’s wage bill has surged to £385m amid their worst season in almost 30 years. Liverpool has surpassed them in revenue for the first time in English Premier League history. The Glazer family has valued Manchester United at £3.75bn. However, this may not be enough to deter interest from Britain’s richest man – Jim Ratcliffe and Dubai.