Manchester United sucker punch punishes wasteful Gunners

There were many potentially fascinating subplots ahead of this duel, but the theme that dominated as Manchester United (outsiders at 33/1 with Coral to win the Premier League) downed Arsenal 2-1 was defensive wobbles and woes.

Instead of a story of two strikers returning to their former clubs, or an exciting match-up between two attacks stacked with top quality options, this encounter quickly became a tale of two porous backlines.

Arsenal began brightly, compensating for a makeshift back four that once again featured Nacho Monreal at the heart of defence by boisterously pressing a nervous Red Devils rearguard.

Louis van Gaal had reverted to a back three, given the injury crisis, and United took some time to settle into a system they had never really taken to in the first place.

Misplaced passes and sloppy possession presented the Gunners with a wealth of chances, but Arsene Wenger’s men, notably Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck, failed to convert.

Most of the credit for the home team’s early failure to get on the scoresheet should certainly go to David de Gea, however. There is little doubt that the super stopper is the Red Devils’ best player, and the Spaniard once again outshone his outfield peers to deny an eager Arsenal.

If not for his sensational string of saves, this encounter could easily have been finished before the break, and the young custodian continued his fine form in the second half. De Gea, who had been a doubt due to a broken finger, gobbled up almost everything aimed at him.

United were repeatedly sliced open, with Per Mertesacker comfortable enough to bring the ball almost to the halfway line, but the vistors were emboldened by Arsenal’s inability to finish.

It was a testy battle that saw Luke Shaw, Wojciech Szczesny and Wilshere all leave the pitch with injuries that will worry both misfortune-stricken sides.

Wilshere was lucky to remain on the pitch for as long as he did, however. After being harshly denied an early penalty claim, the feisty Englishman’s frustration eventually boiled over into a shoulder-butt on Marouane Fellaini, but he received only a stern talking to.