IF Arsenal do mount a proper title challenge this season, they’ll do it by riding a love train.
That’s the line-up of Gunners players who rush in from behind the back post every time they win a corner, pack the opposition six-yard box – and frequently score.
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Here, Ruben Amorim suffered his first defeat as Manchester United boss as Arsenal netted from two of these familiar set-piece routines – off the head of Jurrien Timber and the right buttock of William Saliba.
That fortunate effort from the French defender was the 22nd goal Arsenal had scored from a corner in the Premier League since the start of last season – seven more than any other club.
Mikel Arteta’s tactics owe more to Tony Pulis than Arsene Wenger but nobody at the Emirates will give a stuff if they can give Liverpool a run for their money.
As Arne Slot’s men finally dropped a couple of points in a classic at Newcastle, the Gunners were grinding it out against an unadventurous United side who came for a point and ended with nowt.
Arteta’s men are now within seven points of leaders Liverpool, and trailing second-placed Chelsea on goal difference.
There is hope, however slim, after this third straight convincing league win.
Amorim’s side barely had a shot on goal until a David Raya wonder save denied Matthijs De Ligt midway through the second half.
But the corner count of 13-0 told its own story. You simply cannot afford to afford Arsenal so many set-piece chances when they are the undoubted masters of that art.
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Guru Nico Jover will take even more plaudits after this – and for all the talk of Amorim’s tactical genius, United were supremely unconvincing at this defensive basic.
Amorim is still at the bingo master stage with his team selections as he grapples with the various permutations among his squad.
There were six changes from the 4-0 thumping of Everton – including the benching of Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee, who between them netted all four goals on Sunday.
Mason Mount, a player Amorim has expressed his “love” for, was handed his first league start since August – against his best chum Declan Rice.
Arsenal’s defensive resources were being stretched Gabriel and Ricardo Calafiori joining Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the injury list, with Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko both drafted in.
On a filthy old night in north London, the first half was a tough old watch.
There was precious little devilment from Arsenal and United found it all too easy to sit in their shape and threaten on the counter.
Gabriel Martinelli had the ball in the net early on but Kai Havertz had been well offside.
Arsenal’s only real threat was from their trademark corner-kick routines – Thomas Partey mistiming a header from point-blank range and the ball cannoning wide off his shoulder.
Martinelli blazed wide after Andre Onana had punched a dangerous Saka corner out from beneath his bar.
Amorim sat on his haunches, stroked his chin and watched the chess. Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane would have hated it.
It wasn’t until the 43rd minute that United had a shot – Diogo Dalot drilling wide across goal.
Yet there wasn’t a single effort on target from either side during one of the most forgettable halves of football you could ever imagine watching.
Tyrell Malacia, who booked in a tangle with Havertz just before the interval, was hooked at half-time to make way for Amad Diallo – the stand-out star of Amorim’s early reign.
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Soon after the second half got away, Liverpool had their lead cancelled out at Newcastle and there was just a glimmer of hope that some sort of title race might occur. And that Arsenal might be part of it.
Rice soon had a shot deflected over and then, after a lengthy injury delay as Matthijs De Ligt received treatment, Arsenal forced another corner and finally seized the lead.
Arsenal were packing the six-yard box every time they won a set-piece and this time Rice delivered to the near post, where Rasmus Hojlund failed to connect and Timber snuck in behind him to glance a header past Onana.
Amorim immediately turned to his bench and sent on Rashford and Zirkzee, along with debutant defender Lenny Yoro, who had been injured in pre-season following a summer move from Lille.
His first task was to help deal with another couple of Arsenal corners, Manuel Ugarte clearing the next one off the line after a Rice in-swinger.
Diallo gave Zinchenko the run-around and was hauled down on the edge of the area by the Ukrainian full-back, who was booked.
Fernandes delivered the free-kick and De Ligt’s towering header forced a magnificent clawing save from a full-stretched David Raya – the Arsenal keeper’s first meaningful action of the night, midway through the second half.
Zinchenko was soon withdrawn in favour of Mikel Merino, with Thomas Partey moving to right-back as Leandro Trossard replaced Martinelli.
Then came the second, a corner conceded by Rashford attempting to play keepy-uppy on his own goal line.
Saka swung this one in from the right, Partey nodded back from beyond the far post as the ball cannoned in off Saliba’s backside.
Havertz should have completed the job soon after when latched on to Odegaard’s sweet pass only for Onana to block the German at near post.
From another corner, Merino headed wide across goal.
And Partey then went close from – you guessed it, yet another corner.
Arsenal ratings vs Manchester United
ARSENAL were comfortable 2-0 winners over Manchester United at the Emirates thanks to two goals from set-pieces.
Check out how the players rated…
DAVID RAYA – 7/10
One of his poorer games with ball at feet, scuffing clearances when he is usually so pin-point.
All that can be forgotten after a stunning fingertip stop to keep out De Ligt’s looping header.
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO – 7
A reminder of why he is such a valuable squad player these days. Came in from out of the cold with a solid and resolute performance at the back.
The only blip was a lapse in concentration meaning he was forced to foul Amad and pick up a needless yellow card.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 9
Missed his defensive partner but you wouldn’t know it. Cool and calm under pressure with some nice turns and drives up the pitch.
So he deserved his luck for his goal to make it 2-0 – Partey’s header from a corner deflecting off his backside.
JAKUB KIWIOR – 8
Struggled physically against Hojlund from United goal kicks and long balls, often letting the ball bounce instead of attacking it aerially like Gabriel does.
Saying that, he grew into his role and really put in a shift under pressure, even getting high fives from Saliba at one point.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 8
Link-up with Saka down the right flank was not as fluid as in recent weeks, yet he was brave to win the flick on to open the scoring in the second half.
Switched to left-back late on, showing off further his versatility and usefulness to Arteta and Arsenal
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Missed a sitter from a near-post corner that he shouldered wide early on and continued to have one of those games in midfield, giving up possession time after time with sloppy passes.
Moved to right back with 20 minutes left only to help double their lead with his header for Saliba.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Struggled to assert his authority in the first half but fixed that after the break, providing the whipped corner assist for Timber.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 7
Leads by example, even if he cannot sprinkle a big of magic into proceedings. His pressing and all-round work rate was more important in this one.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6
Shinned a decent chance from six yards after United failed to clear a corner. Was committed in defence in the second half to help out Zinchenko against Amad.
BUKAYO SAKA – 7
Pushed Malacia back and Arsenal up the pitch with his great runs in behind, a constant threat.
His corner abilities – teeing up Saliba’s gaol – is just another string to his bow.
KAI HAVERTZ – 6
A real quiet one from the German, not that he had much service to feed off. Wore out his boots with plenty of running and battled with De Ligt and Maguire well.
Missed a glorious chance to wrap up the game in a one-on-one with Onana.
SUBS:
MIKEL MERINO (ZINCHENKO, 70) – 7
Leaped brilliantly from yet another corner unmarked and no clue how he didn’t find the bottom corner.
LEANDRO TROSSARD (MARTINELLI, 70) – 6
A couple of breakaways almost created openings. The added energy down the left was well received.
JORGINHO (ODEGAARD, 90) – N/A
Man Utd ratings vs Arsenal
RUBEN AMORIM lost his first game since taking charge of Man Utd after a 2-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates.
See how the players rated…
ANDRE ONANA – 5
He was let off early in the game after a stray pass saw Gabriel Martinelli put the ball in the net before the linesman raised his flag.
Failed to command his area as 5″10 Jurrien Timber leapt highest to rattle the back of his net, before the ball floated to the back post for Arsenal to score their second set piece.
DIOGO DALOT – 6
Flashed a shot just wide at the end of the first half when he did eventually get forward.
Not bad defensively but more dangerous going forwards.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6
Formed a good partnership with Maguire in the first half, and fans will be hoping he is okay after suffering a slight knock.
Needed to be a more commanding figure in the box to stop being dominated by The Gunners at set pieces.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 7
Was actually very impressive in the first half, with a solid showing.
Not at fault for Timber’s header hitting the back of the net, before he was replaced by Leny Yoro.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Playing as a left-sided centre-back he looked fairly comfortable, which is a credit to the Moroccan’s versatility.
That said, he still looked better off in the role that Malacia, then Dalot occupied tonight as a left-wingback.
TYRELL MALACIA – 3
Noticeably looked extremely physically weak up against Bukayo Saka on the left-hand side, before being booked for a kick out at Kai Havertz.
Offered nothing going forward and his link-up with Garnacho was practically non-existent. Hooked at half-time for the far more threatening Amad.
MANUEL UGARTE – 5
Another one who was booked in the first half, he failed to establish any kind of presence in the game and on the ball, looked pretty woeful.
Cleared a Joshua Zirkzee header off of his own line to stop Arsenal from doubling their lead early in the second half.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 4
This game was crying out for Bruno Fernandes to stamp his authority on it, and it seemed he just couldn’t quite get his foot on the ball to do so.
Played a deeper role today, next to Ugarte, which meant we didn’t see any of his attacking spark.
MASON MOUNT – 3
Mason Mount at right wing was an experiment tried and failed at Chelsea, which Amorim tried again tonight.
He was often lost in the half-space, meaning he was essentially useless going forwards. Hooked in the second half after a fairly abysmal showing.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 5
A very quiet first half, only brightened by one half-decent cross, was met by a second half where he was quickly subbed for Marcus Rashford.
Quiet.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 6
Battled well with the physical presence of William Saliba early on, but his side failed to create him any kind of chances.
Cut a frustrated figure for most of the match, and rightly so. There will be no point signing Gyokeres if they can’t create anything for him to score.
SUBS
AMAD (TYRELL MALACIA, HT) – 5
Was more direct and definitely an improvement on Malacia, albeit on the opposite flank.
However, still wasn’t able to be the difference which Ruben Amorim would’ve been looking for in this one.
MARCUS RASHFORD (MASON MOUNT, 72) – 5
Having been electric on the whole under Amorim, he wasn’t able to provide any kind of spark against an opponent which has been one of his favourites in recent years.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (ALEJANDRO GARNACHO, 72) – 4
After an impressive display last time out, he failed to offer anything to his side going forward today.
The closest he came to scoring was a dangerous header which almost saw him get an own goal on the scoresheet.
LENY YORO (HARRY MAGUIRE, 72) – 6
Looks like a pretty good defender on the whole, a tough game for a young centre-back, but he didn’t look out of place whatsoever.
ANTONY (RASMUS HOJLUND, 79) – 5
Played his part in a clever free-kick routine at the end of the game, before fluffing his lines and finding the gloves of David Raya.
