Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal: What Were The Main Talking Points As The Gunners Take Their Title Dreams Down To The Final Weekend?

With all eyes falling on Old Trafford this weekend, Arsenal reestablished their spot at the top of the Premier League table as they secured a 1-0 victory away at historic rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

Watching Manchester City breeze their way to a 4-0 romp away at Fulham 24 hours earlier and briefly leapfrogging them to pole position, all of the pressure was on Mikel Arteta’s young squad here.

However, while United might have produced a rugged display for large spells, it was the Gunners who claimed an early winner as the red-hot Leandro Trossard tapped home from close range after just 20 minutes.

Overcoming another hurdle in the red half of Manchester and making another statement here, Arsenal have now won seven of their last eight Premier League appearances and the mood in their camp will be at a red-hot high heading into the final weekend.

As for Manchester United, Sunday’s host have claimed just a single victory from any of their previous eight consecutive top-flight appearances and the pressure on ten Hag’s shoulders is now at a boiling point.

On an afternoon when Arsenal climbed back to the top of the Premier League table, we have taken a look at the main talking points from Old Trafford.

Arsenal do their part

Dethroned at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday lunchtime as City stormed their way to a 4-0 victory at Craven Cottage, Arsenal were more than aware that they faced a season-defining showdown here.

Although many might have suspected over the past few months that Arteta’s starlets would show some signs of a phycological wobble, Sunday’s guests are firing on all cylinders and have taken their charge for the history books down to the final weekend.

Now in a straight shootout with the defending champions in their bid to claim a first Premier League crown since 2004, Arsenal have now won all of their previous five Premier League showdowns by an aggregate score of 14-2.

Despite falling to a shock 2-0 defeat at home against Aston Villa on April 14th, Arteta’s high-flying squad have come roaring back in a remarkable fashion and certainly made another statement of intent here.

With the ball now in City’s court ahead of their trip to Tottenham on Tuesday night, Arsenal have done their part and will now have their full attention on Everton’s arrival at the Emirates on the final weekend.

Trossard has become Arsenal’s MVP

While England international Bukayo Saka might have continued to receive plenty of plaudits around north London this season, it was another one of Arsenal’s striking superstars who dragged the Gunners over the finishing line here.

Although the Belgium international might have only arrived at the Emirates last year following a £21million move from Brighton, Trossard has already repaid his minimal transfer fee.

Cementing his spot as a fan favourite in north London and now officially dethroning Gabriel Martinelli in Arteta’s first-choice attack, the 29-year-old is enjoying a remarkable Premier League romp.

Producing a smart first-half finish here and dragging Arsenal to what could be an historic victory at Old Trafford, Trossard has now got on the scoresheet in four of his previous five top-flight appearances.

Receiving a string of plaudits and recording 11 goals across all competitions since opening the New Year, the one-time Genk starlet has another leading role to play next weekend.

Another bitter blow for ETH

Coming under a huge amount of scrutiny earlier in the week after slumping to an infamous 4-0 drumming away at Crystal Palace, it now appears almost inevitable that ten Hag will be removed from his role in the Old Trafford dugout this summer.

Eventually falling to a 1-0 loss at the hands of their historic rivals here, the former Ajax boss has found the pressure on his shoulders at a boiling point.

Now facing a real uphill battle in the race to claim any kind of European finish over the final week, Sunday’s hosts have the feel of a squad limping their way over the finishing line.

Drawing back-to-back blanks for the first time since opening the New Year, United have now remarkably collected just a single victory from any of their previous eight Premier League appearances.

With Newcastle arriving at Old Trafford on Wednesday night for their final home fixture of the season, it also appears that could be ten Hag’s last time in the dugout.

Match Report

Manchester United: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Evans, Dalot, Maison, Amrabat, Diallo, McTominay, Garnacho, Hojlund

Subs: Antony, Eriksen, Forson, Kambwala, Wheatley

Arsenal: Rayo, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Trossard, Havertz, Saka

Subs: Jesus, Kiwior, Jorginho, Martinelli

Goals: Trossard (20’)

Yellow Cards: Saka, Raya

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Paul Tierney