Arsenal are counting the positives after their impressive, and important, Premier League win against historic rivals Manchester United this week, in what was a stellar result for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Red Devils made the trip south to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, 4 December, in what was newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim’s first ‘big six’ clash.
Despite a dominant display, it was two set-piece goals which sealed a 2-0 win for Arsenal, with Jurrien Timber and William Saliba etching their names onto the scoresheet in the absence of Gabriel Magalhães.
Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Jakub Kiwior
Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Jakub Kiwior (Image credit: Getty Images)
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This ultimately proved to be one of the biggest positives in the Manchester United win, from an Arsenal perspective, as they showed the world that their set-pieces continue to spell goals even without their star Brazilian defender – who missed the game through injury.
With set-piece goals now accounting for 25 per cent (seven out of 28) of the goals that Arsenal have scored in the Premier League so far in the 2024/25 campaign – their ability to continually do so without Gabriel could prove imperative to their season.
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While it may seem inconsequential for the time being, perhaps the biggest positive of the night occurred some 273 miles away in the northeast of England, where Liverpool were held to a 3-3 draw against Newcastle – the first time Arne Slot’s side have dropped points since their game against Arsenal in October.
With Liverpool drawing and Arsenal winning, the gap at the top of the Premier League table was reduced to seven points which, while still a sizeable difference, appears a far more achievable figure to overturn than the previous nine.
The win also put a dent into Amorim’s start to life as Manchester United boss, as it represented his first loss since making the switch from Sporting CP last month, following the sacking of Erik ten Hag.
At a time when building confidence is of paramount importance, Arsenal and Arteta will be delighted to have dampened the spirits, even if only temporarily, of their Premier League rivals.
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