Metro’s Tom Olver breaks down the winners and losers from Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on the Emirates.
Gabriel Jesus stutters in centre-forward audition
Given the nod over Viktor Gyokeres after a formidable brace against Inter Milan in midweek, Gabriel Jesus will little doubt have been itching to nail down his spot as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice centre-forward.
But with the Gunners utterly dominant within the early exchanges, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard combined to offer the principal threat from out wide – with the Brazilian a largely peripheral figure through the center, in stark contrast with Bryan Mbeumo at the opposite end of the pitch.
It was more of the identical from Jesus because the second half wore on and Mikel Arteta had seen enough by the 58th minute, along with his side stumbling seeking an equaliser after a spirited fightback from the visitors.
An enormous opportunity missed for the previous Manchester City attacker as United threw a cat amongst the pigeons on this yr’s title race. It leaves Arteta with a troublesome call to make up front ahead of Arsenal’s return to top-flight motion at Leeds next weekend.
A rare moment to forget for Martin Zubimendi
Martin Zubimendi helped gift United a route back into the sport with a horrible lapse in concentration at a vital stage in the competition before half-time.
Arsenal’s often metronomic summer signing has hardly put a foot fallacious since joining from Real Sociedad and the Spaniard could scarcely consider what he had done as Mbeumo latched onto his misplaced pass before calmly rounding David Raya and stroking the ball home.
An unwanted collector’s item for Zubimendi and a moment he won’t wish to repeat any time soon.
Even ignoring his blunder, there was a definite lack of creativity and urgency from Zubimendi when the hosts badly needed someone to rise up and take the sport by the scruff of the neck.
Arsenal match rankings: Raya 7, Timber 7, Saliba 5, Gabriel 5, Hincapie 6, Zubimendi 4, Rice 7, Odegaard 6, Saka 6, Trossard 6, Jesus 4. Subs: White 4, Merino 7, Eze 5, Madueke 5, Gyokeres 4.
A mixed day for Martinez
Martinez has endured surely his hardest period yet as a United player and things went bad to worse for the diminutive centre-back on the half-hour mark on the Emirates.
After being on the top of some scathing criticism from Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, the Argentine may have been desperate to construct on his encouraging display against Manchester City.
But one other of United’s Class of ’92 was left lower than impressed as Martinez – put under pressure from Jurrien Timber – directed the ball into his own net to open the scoring for Arsenal. ‘He should take care of it,’ said Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
Martinez did, though, show great resilience to maintain his chin up to assist keep the likes of Saka, Trossard and Jesus quiet alongside a near-faultless Harry Maguire at the center of Michael Carrick’s defence.
Bryan Mbeumo the big-game competitor
Bryan Mbeumo further showed himself to be perhaps United’s most shrewd piece of summer transfer business with just the most recent in a protracted line of eye-catching performances for the club.
He greater than deserved his first-half goal, helping force a rare misplaced pass from Zubimendi with some relentless pressing through the center. The following finish had all of the coolness and confidence of a player well and truly at the height of his powers.
It’s no coincidence that United’s resurgence under Michael Carrick has coincided with Mbeumo’s welcome return from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The £71million spent on Mbeumo will prove to be a steal if the Cameroon international continues in the identical vein over the approaching weeks and months, adding to his already impressive scoring tally.
Carrick won’t mind Mbeumo’s animated response to being substituted for Matheus Cunha within the 68th minute. It’s exactly that form of character and personality that the club have badly lacked for thus long within the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Patrick Dorgu comes of age
Michael Carrick was stuffed with praise for Patrick Dorgu’s ‘immense’ performance after a dream derby day for United – and the Dane picked up where he left off this weekend.
It’s fair to say Dorgu has had an up-down begin to his United profession since becoming the primary signing of Ruben Amorim’s turbulent reign. But his talent has at all times been undoubted – the difference is he’s is now starting to showcase that ability on a way more consistent basis.
His Fiftieth-minute wonder strike – which Neville branded ‘the goal of a lifetime’ – was the standout moment of quality… that is until Cunha provided some serious competition along with his stunning effort to win it within the closing stages.
Such a shame that a suspected hamstring injury cut short Dorgu’s showing with ten minutes remaining within the capital. Carrick will likely be praying it isn’t as bad because it first appeared so the teenager is capable of make a speedy return to the fold.
Man Utd player rankings: Lammens 7, Dalot 6, Maguire 8, Martinez 6, Shaw 6, Casemiro 6, Mainoo 6, Amad 5, Fernandes 7, Dorgu 8, Mbeumo 8. Subs: Cunha 8, Sesko 5, Mazraoui 5.