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Man Utd put in an encouraging performance as they drew 1-1 with Arsenal in the Premier League.
The only complaint Manchester United fans will have about their performance against Arsenal is that it was only worth one point rather than three. Ruben Amorim’s side weathered an early storm to keep the visitors at bay before a brilliant Bruno Fernandes free-kick gave them an unlikely half-time lead.
Declan Rice ensured the spoils were shared with a stunning strike of his own, though it came after several glorious chances for United to double their lead and potentially put the game out of sight. There was another in the dying seconds of the game as well, when Fernandes saw his effort spectacularly cleared off the line by the impressive David Raya.
Regardless of the result, it was a positive performance that showed the progress United have made under Amorim, particularly at a time when they are contending with an injury crisis. Yet they know it will count for little if they don't follow it up with another big performance against Real Sociedad later this week.
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Manchester United gave encouragement in 10 second move
Ruben Amorim deserves credit for trying to implement a different style of play at Manchester United, though his stubbornness to alter the tactical approach has been used against him when results have been poor. The United head coach does not was to defer from his distinctive philosophy, even if it means taking a short-term hit while a group of underperforming players try to adapt mid-season when confidence is already low.
If they are looking for signs it is slowly working, they got one in a breathtaking 10 second move against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. United started the second-half much better than they had done the first and so nearly doubled their lead with an exquisite move that eventually saw Noussair Mazraoui thwarted by David Raya in the Arsenal goal. The live television coverage missed the build-up to the chance as they replayed the Bruno Fernandes free-kick, and only cut back to the action when Diogo Dalot crossed perfectly for Mazraoui, who displayed exceptional technique to volley the ball low at goal.
Even in isolation, that clip was incredibly impressive. Not only because it demonstrated the importance of wing-backs in Amorim's system, but because the long-term plan is for both of those players to become back-up options out wide. Dalot's delivery is too inconsistent to regularly expect such a threat from him on the left-wing, while Mazraoui is suited better to a central role in the new formation. Patrick Dorgu was signed to solve this issue on the left during the winter window and a right winger will be targeted this summer to bring balance to the side.
The move was about much more than the two wing-backs though. Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen exchanged quick passes in their own half to build the tempo, and when the ball was clipped forward towards Joshua Zirkzee, both Dalot and Mazraoui burst forward from out wide, while Eriksen raced ahead to create an overload in the Arsenal half.
A huge amount of credit goes to Zirkzee, not only for his strength to hold play up but his composure to turn and put the ball on a plate for Dalot. His cross was perfect and so nearly set-up a sensational goal, which required an equally excellent contribution from Raya to keep it out.
Amorim can only be fairly judged when he has had a full pre-season schedule and been able to mould the team into his vision, the Arsenal performance proved that is worth sticking around for.
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