Manchester United upset the form guide to stun Arsenal and move into the top four in the Premier League
Manchester United's players soak up the applauds after victory over Arsenal
Manchester United's players soak up the applauds after victory over Arsenal(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Sunday afternoon was always going to be a tough ask for Manchester United and Michael Carrick in particular. Expectations were through the roof after the manner in which the Reds beat Manchester City the weekend prior and there was now belief this United team could turn up to the Emirates Stadium and win.
That was despite Arsenal's ground becoming a fortress this season and the Gunners having not tasted defeat since the beginning of December. So with expectations skyrocketing and an opponent seemingly running away with the Premier League title, what were the chances of Carrick being able to mastermind another sensational victory?
It turned out, those expectations were not to be feared. United were sensational in north London and became only the second team to beat Mikel Arteta's side when they have scored two or more goals. The other team to do that? Well, that was also United led by Carrick in 2021.
But it was more than just omens and good fortune which saw United defy the odds and beat the leaders on Sunday. MEN Sport has taken a look at seven things United did tactically which proved to be the undoing of Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Men behind the ball
The connotations surrounding 'Park the Bus' are often negative due to some of the football we see from clubs who sit back. What we see from Carrick's system is how deep he likes his team to sit and invite pressure.
On several occasions against the Gunners, you could see Amad and Patrick Dorgu drop into the defensive line, creating effectively a back six which Arsenal struggled to break down. United smothered the defence when the home side ventured into their half which made it impossible for the Gunners to play through the lines.
Once United regained possession, Amad and Dorgu burst out of their holding roles to join the attack. Just as it was against City, the Reds were happy to not have the ball.
Maguire's free role
Before the game, we all knew where United could be outdone - set pieces. The Reds are no strangers to scoring from corners and free kicks this season but it is Arsenal who have managed to perfect the craft.
The Gunners tried a number of routines to unpick the Reds with only one working, (we will get onto that). But one tactical decision Carrick employed to counteract the Arsenal threat, was to give Harry Maguire a free role defensively.
As Maguire is easily United's strongest header of the ball, it made sense to have him focused on watching its flight rather than being bogged down in a tussle with one of Arsenal's strapping centre halves. Speaking of which.
Embracing the battle
United were caught out by one set piece in the game and were punished but, for the most part, they defended them well. Arsenal's tactic was to pile their aerial threats around Senne Lammens to cause chaos.
When they attempted that, United's rebuttal was to try and do everything in their power to leave Lammens free so he could punch clear. The one time United were not able to stop the opposition, they conceded.
Fortunately for the Reds, they were willing to embrace the battle and the scrappier side of the match. They played Arsenal at their own game and were victorious.
Harry Maguire and Gabriel exchange a war of words during Manchester United's victory over Arsenal
Harry Maguire and Gabriel exchange a war of words during Manchester United's victory over Arsenal(Image: )
View 2 Images
Casemiro's engine revitalised
It was not that long ago Jamie Carragher was on Monday Night Football expressing how Casemiro's legs had gone and football had left him. Sunday was yet more proof this long goodbye could be a brilliant swansong for the Brazilian.
On paper, you would think Kobbie Mainoo was most likely to be the box-to-box midfielder in the United system but in reality, it was Casemiro pushing up towards the No.10 position when pressing and then dropping deep when Arsenal were on the front foot.
When United were in possession and on the attack, Casemiro did well to shuttle play out onto the flanks from an advanced role. The Brazilian's passing range is underrated but few would have predicted him being capable of playing such a physically demanding position so well - but he did.
Attacking fluidity
What we saw too often last season was United's centre-forward - usually Rasmus Hojlund - struggling at the top of the pitch trying to perform the pressing duty solo. There are few players in the modern game who can do that for the entirety of a match.
Bryan Mbeumo is much more mobile and willing to do the unseen work but even he cannot do it for a full 90 minutes. The Cameroonian shared this responsibility with Amad and this allowed the forward to recharge his batteries so that when the time came, he was ready.
Superb pressing
The first goal proved United were more than just a team willing to sit back. When Gabriel received the ball, he was met with a wall of players in front of him.
United were helped by Martin Odegaard not dropping back to support the defender but the initiative of Casemiro and Mainoo to step up and ensure the attack and midfield pressed as one was impressive. By the time Martin Zubimendi played the loose ball straight into Mbeumo's path, there was little more he could have done to avoid that outcome. It was a masterclass in pressing from the Reds.
Route one
In the first half, Lammens overshot a long ball upfield towards Mbeumo and the Arsenal defence easily mopped up possession. Instead of lambasting his goalkeeper, the Cameroonian could be seen showing appreciation for the idea and it became clear why.
With the score locked at 2-2, Lammens went long again and this time reached his target of Benjamin Sesko. Other than Matheus Cunha, Sesko played the biggest role in the winner.
His strength and ability to knock the ball down for Fernandes opened the Arsenal defence up. It still required a moment of genius from Cunha but without having the focal point at the top of the pitch, United would not have scored a third.
Content cannot be displayed without consent