The Arsenal performance once again looks like a false dawn after Man Utd escaped with a draw against Fulham despite a strong start to the game.
Man Utd had a breathless start to the game against Fulham, with Matheus Cunha striking the post and testing Bernd Leno with clear-cut chances.
However, despite missing a penalty and still leading, Man Utd ended the game under the cosh, with Fulham looking the team likelier to score.
All of that trouble boiled down to one problem, which was present against Arsenal as well. Ruben Amorim is convinced it will soon be a thing of the past.
Ruben Amorim convinced Man Utd on the right track
Despite a winless start to the Premier League season and, more worryingly, a goalless start from his players (United’s goal vs Fulham was Muniz’s own goal), Amorim has cut an optimistic figure.
In contrast to the previous season, Amorim has praised the performance and effort levels of the players, convinced that wins will come in due course.
That line of thinking was easy to believe against Arsenal, but needs to be backed by a win sooner rather than later after taking a step back against Fulham.
Speaking in his press conference after the Fulham game, Amorim sounded convinced that the problem that has plagued the team – a lack of goals – will soon correct itself.
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He said: “We are going to score goals because we are creating so many chances. That is the most important thing. We just have to move on.”
Performances are not a mitigating factor anymore
The most optimistic Man Utd fans have been willing to consider these two games as the proper first ones of the Ruben Amorim era.
However, it is impossible not to look at his complete record at Old Trafford and be worried that, just like many players, maybe his style of play is just not suited to the Premier League.
Green shoots of performances against Arsenal can’t be a straw to hold on to every time United take a step back, which seems to happen weekly.
With a daunting fixture list coming up, dropping points against Burnley could easily see United start the season on a six-game winless run.
Amorim said after the game that this team needs to feel a win soon, which is worrying, because it proves that the fear of failure is concentrating their minds.
That is never a mentality that promotes success. “That display against Arsenal” can’t be a redeeming factor for a Man Utd manager, regardless of how much the standards need resetting.