Manchester United suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday, marking their second consecutive loss in the Premier League. This defeat was particularly significant as it ended Arsenal’s 18-year winless streak at Old Trafford when supporters were present. The crucial goal came in the 20th minute when Leandro Trossard managed to slip the ball past Andre Onana from close range, putting Arsenal in the lead.
Despite United’s efforts to equalize in the second half, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against goalkeeper David Raya. This result adds to the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag, who is currently fighting to keep his job. The team’s position in the league standings remains concerning, as they are currently ninth and are on course for their lowest-ever Premier League finish.
Let’s delve into how the individual players performed and their respective ratings from the match.
Andre Onana, despite making some inaccurate passes that led to Arsenal’s goal, had a decent performance overall, making some crucial saves. He received a rating of 7.
Diogo Dalot, playing at left-back, showcased a spirited performance with an impressive run early in the game. However, he struggled to contain Bukayo Saka effectively. He received a rating of 6.
Casemiro had a disappointing outing, particularly at center-back, where he was partly at fault for Trossard’s goal. His rating reflects this performance, with a score of 4.
Jonny Evans showed resilience in tougher situations but was unable to prevent Arsenal from taking the lead. He received a rating of 6.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka had a difficult time dealing with Trossard’s threat before the goal, and his risk-averse approach impacted the team negatively. He received a rating of 4.
Kobbie Mainoo showed improvement compared to recent matches, benefiting from having a defensive midfielder alongside him. He received a rating of 6.
Sofia Amrabat’s dedicated performance in midfield was praised, providing much-needed balance to the team. His rating reflects this with a score of 7.
Amad made his first start in a long time and performed admirably, raising questions about why he hasn’t featured more prominently recently. He received a rating of 7.
Scott McTominay, despite captaining the side upon his return, struggled to make a significant impact in midfield. He received a rating of 4.
Alejandro Garnocho was a regular outlet but lacked effectiveness in the final third, resulting in a lower rating of 5.
Rasmus Hojlund’s poor form continued, and his performance was rated at 3, suggesting he should have been substituted earlier.
Among the substitutes, Antony, Willy Kambwala, Christian Eriksen, Omar Forson, and Ethan Wheatley all received ratings reflecting their contributions during their time on the pitch.
In terms of managerial decisions, there were criticisms of ten Hag’s choice to play Casemiro in defense, which was seen as a costly decision. However, introducing Amrabat later in the game was seen as a positive move to restore order in midfield.