We’ve got super F\*\*\*in Michael Carrick.
Manchester United continued their interim manager bounceback with a stunning 3-2 win against league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, accepting a gift of a goal to equalize through Bryan Mbeumo before Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha both hit second half screamers to seal a win against Mikel Arteta’s terror ballers.
Carrick ran it back with the same starting XI that took down the noisy neighbors at Old Trafford last week, and though it was a bit of a sluggish start the side kicked into gear over the course of the first half, and found a new level after the break.
The opening 20 minutes or so saw the Gunners dominate possession with little space to operate on the few occasions United were able to carry the ball forward. Ultimately the hosts were rewarded for their efforts, but it was perhaps a reflection of their “play for corners” approach that the opening goal was more of a mistake than a genuine effort. A low ball across goal took a touch off of the heel of Lisandro Martinez to steer into the net past Senne Lammens.
It wasn’t too long though until the conservative nature of the Gunners backfired in a big way. Mbeumo accepted a lazy pass from Martin Zubimendi across the back line and charged past David Raya to convert the equalizer, putting the sides back on even terms in the 37th minute.
After halftime, it was United who looked the more enterprising team, and the possession saw the team grow in confidence. Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes had some miscalculated moments on the ball, but for the most part were crucial in exploiting the limited space in between Arsenal’s midfielders.
It was like threading a needle at times, but it created chaos when United did get through the lines, and the backpedaling Arsenal defense presented some space for final balls and attempts from the edge of the area.
Dorgu went with the latter, launching a half volley into the net off the underside of the bar in the top left corner, leaving Raya helpless and the away end in jubilation at yet another goal from the resurgent wide player (might not be a wingback anymore, he may belong in the final third).
Arsenal’s dominance of possession wasn’t so fruitful, though it did create five corner kicks, and they finally hit on one of them in the 84th minute. A crowded area was exactly what the Gunners wanted on a near-post cross, which Lammens couldn’t get to and left Mikel Merino well-positioned to capitalize on the chaos at the goalmouth.
It was a potentially backbreaking goal, but United simply got forward again and made it count.
Cunha, who arrived in place of Mbeumo in the second half, took the space afforded him at the top of the box and fired a laser into the bottom right corner past Raya in the 87th minute to put the Reds back in front and celebrate at the Milly Rock corner flag.
Arsenal had seven minutes of stoppage time and did nothing with it as their title hopes took a bit of a hit, and United’s resurgence put them into fourth, eight points back from Aston Villa and Manchester City and one point ahead of Chelsea.
United go again next Sunday against Fulham at Old Trafford.