**FA PREMIER LEAGUE**
**ARSENAL 2 (Martinez OG 29, Merino 80)**
**MAN U 3 (Mbuemo 37, Dorgu 50, Cunha 87)**
BOOS rang out at first time as Carrick bouncing Manchester United condemned the Gunners to a first home defeat of the seasons.
Much like the recent Liverpool home game, Arsenal looked imperious for the first 20 minutes but lost their grip on the match in worrying fashion.
Misplaced passes and sloppy errors at the back allowed the visitors back into the game and created an uneasy atmosphere among that fans who are losing confidence fast.
Arsenal’s two goals were typically ugly – caused by pressure more than skill: an OG, and a bundle across the line in the melee from a corner.
Other than that there were few real chances while United were creating clear chances. Bruno Fernandes missed the goal twice when clear in on goal in the first half.
Jarringly given Arsenal are top of the league and Champions League and still in both cups, there were boos at the final whistle.
Manager Mikel Arteta said: “That’s fine, we accept every opinion. Where it comes, and where it comes from.
“We have to show the mental strength.”
A bit more than that, Arsenal have to work out a proper Plan B.
Because the quadruple sub made before the hour mark failed to change the flow of the game.
The play was still slow and painfully methodical. When a bit of grit, power and direct attacking was needed.
Man U’s second two goals were exceptional, while the Gunners’ were ugly.
Mikel Merino scabbed an equaliser with ten minutes to go – bundling in from from a corner.
And with home fans still celebrating, Cunha bent in a perfect shot into the far corner.
The worthy winner was almost as good as Patrick Dorgu’s worldie just after half time, which came with Arsenal already looking shaky.
He breezed through hesitant challenges from Zubimendi before rasping in a screamer that faded away to the top corner onto the inside of the crossbar.
The game had been very similar to the Liverpool game, when Arsenal had outclassed the visitors in opening 20 minutes and then inexplicably retreated into a shell.
For apparently the world’s best team, Arteta’s Arsenal are a very frustrating watch – particularly when chasing the game.
Zubimendi who has been so reliable this season had a poor game and was at fault for the opener – misplacing a back pass to David Raya that Mbuemo pounced on and finished well.
Arsenal had gone ahead through another OG – Arsenal’s top scorer in December – after Martinez stabbed in under pressure from Timber.
In a weird way despite Arsenal dominance it had been coming.
Fernandes had already had two gilt edge chances to equalise due to sloppy passing.
Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard looking sharp for the first 15 but soon seemed sapped of confidence.
Trossard was nutmegging players and playing some clinical passes, even racing back to save a counter attack after a corner routine malfunction
In the opening third, the Gunners were mixing it up; hitting it long, changing set piece routines.
There was a great chance for Declan Rice after the Arsenal press caught Man U out easily.
William Saliba found himself bearing down on goal but his cut back was a little slow and Rice didn’t have time to wrap his foot around it.
Zubimendi had a point blank header well saved from five yards after meeting a perfect cross from Rice.
The second half was fraught with anxiety – and the brutal winner by Cunha was too much for the fans to take.
Worryingly, this was not the usual case of a low block frustrating the front line.
Tonight, there was lots more space than normal and United came to play.
Eberechi Eze came on along with Ben White, Noni Madueke, Merino and Viktor Gyokeres just before the hour mark.
Gyokeres had a great chance to equalise at the death but appeared to hoof it out in bizarre circumstances with runners calling for the ball.
Bizarrely, Arteta picked out Madueke for criticism in what was a very brief press conference.
“Noni is one vs one in the box and it goes for a goal kick. We lost the energy.”
**Arsenal:** Raya, Saliba, Hincapie (White 57), Gabriel, Timber, Zubimendi (Eze 57), Rice, Odegaard (Merino 57), Saka, Trossard (Madueke 75), Jesus (Gyokeres 57)**Subs not used:** Kepa, Mosquera, Martinelli, Lewis-Skelly
**Man U:** Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Fernandes, Dorgu (Sesko 80), Amad (Mazraoui 88), Casemiro, Mbeumo (Cunha 70), Shaw, Mainoo
**Subs not used:** Bayindr, Mount, Malacia, Yoro, Ugarte, Heaven