Manchester United have given their fans hope again after an encouraging display against Arsenal at Old Trafford saw them be good value for a 1-1 draw.
As is quickly becoming the norm for Man Utd under Ruben Amorim, the big game stakes made the players turn up, even if it wasn’t in the system Amorim wants to play!
Man Utd sat back for most parts and were happy to hit Arsenal on transitions, with Alejandro Garnacho having a field day running at scrambled defences.
While Amorim admitted that United won’t play this way most times going forward, there was still a moment in the 54th minute which summed up Amorim’s ideal vision.
Crucially, a much-derided United man was at the centre of it in a moment of redemption.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd’s 54th-minute moment against Arsenal
Man Utd had ridden through a mostly turgid first-half against Arsenal to eventually go into half-time with a shock lead, courtesy of Bruno Fernandes’ sublime free-kick.
However, the script was flipped in the second half, as the players, with something to hold onto, played with freedom and incision.
United created the better chances in the second half and should have won the game, and one of the best chances came in the 54th minute.
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The team absorbed pressure from Arsenal in their own half and after earning a turnover, the ball was quickly played to Diogo Dalot on the left.
Dalot was in acres of space and in a play straight out of Amorim’s ideal playbook, his arched cross fell straight into the path of the other wing-back, Noussair Mazraoui, with a stunning stop from David Raya saving Arsenal from going two goals down.
From one wing-back to another in a passage of less than five seconds, United had shown a glimpse of Amorim’s vision and it was due to Dalot, who was derided for doing the exact opposite just three days ago.
Diogo Dalot’s moment of redemption
United drew against Sociedad in the midweek in what was a decent result considering it was an away game in tricky conditions.
However, the focus of the game was squarely on Diogo Dalot, who missed a cross to Rasmus Hojlund running in acres of space.
The Dane was apoplectic at the time, clearly frustrated at Dalot choosing the safe option and passing it backwards, thereby ruining the chance.
It summed up the season for Dalot – always available but never reliable. The Portuguese caught a lot of flak as that moment basically summed up the crisis of confidence permeating through this team.
Against Arsenal, he was in the exact same position, on his weaker foot no less, and redeemed himself with a critical pass that could have earned him an assist.
That mental fortitude should be lauded and the hope is that moment becomes the turning point for him.