Manchester United drew 1-1 with title-chasing Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
United played better than they have in recent weeks, creating numerous chances. However, they were let down by poor finishing and were denied several times by goalkeeper David Raya.
The Red Devils have produced some excellent results against top teams this season. Pundit Micah Richards has a theory about those performances.
He told The Rest Is Football Podcast: “I thought Man United defended better. They gave it a go in the second half and have achieved some good results against the stronger teams.
“What we know about Man United is that they can perform well when sitting in a deeper block, but they struggle in a mid-block or when trying to press.
“They have secured good results against Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal – that’s who they are. Until they get the exact players they need, they will remain a counter-attacking team.”
The former Man City defender also praised Bruno Fernandes, who he believes would have been better elsewhere than United.
“I think we need to give Bruno some praise,” Richards added. “He steps up, and while it can sometimes be frustrating to see him waving his arms around, there’s no doubt he is a quality player.
“His numbers for Man United are incredible, especially in a team that has been struggling.
“Whether it’s a clever pass, a goal, or his efforts to galvanise the team with his leadership, he has been brilliant. I think in a better team, you would have seen a different Fernandes.”
The Portuguese has been heavily scrutinised but remains United’s best player, delivering in key moments for the club.