Second-half goals by Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, both from corners, helped Arsenal to a deserved 2-0 win against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium.
After impressive wins against Nottingham Forest, Sporting Lisbon and West Ham, the Gunners continue to build momentum and have now cut the gap on league leaders Liverpool to seven points after Arne Slot’s side only drew at Newcastle.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on a big win…
Very happy, it was a special night in this incredible stadium. I think we deserved to win the game. We changed the team due to a few injuries, but what an energy in the stadium. We got into the second half and we changed a few things – the team was superb. The team needs every possible result to win the game – let’s continue that.
Source: Premierleague.com
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Ruben Amorim on his side’s performance…
We work a lot on building up. You can see the structure, you can see the idea, you can see the bounce when the centre-backs go to the midfielders, you can see that. But in the last part or last third you can see we need to improve, be more aggressive, more ideas but that part is more difficult to improve without a lot of training.
Source: Manchester Evening News
Arsenal (1.92) 2-0 (0.35) Man Utd
— The xG Philosophy (@xgphilosophy.bsky.social) December 4, 2024 at 10:30 PM
Declan Rice on Jurrien Timber…
When you come back from a knee injury that long, it takes you a while to get going but the level he’s played at is just ridiculous. I see him every day and the commitment and the drive that he has to be better, he’s such a good guy. To perform how he does; he’s loved by the fans, he’s loved by the players, so to score that goal, I’m so happy for him.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Matthijs de Ligt on United losing confidence after the opener…
It’s disappointing because you end with zero points. Especially disappointing because until the first goal it was quite even, we didn’t have many chances, they didn’t have many chances. But you see these set plays, they made a big difference today. After this first goal, the momentum changed a little bit. I had the feeling before the first goal, the crowd became really quiet, in certain moments we controlled the game and they were almost a little bit afraid to concede but after the first goal, the momentum changed, they got more confidence, we maybe lacked a bit of confidence and then it’s really difficult to play against a good team like Arsenal.
Source: manutd.com
Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd FT
They weren't at their best, but the result was all that mattered for Arsenal tonight.
Two set-piece goals are the difference at the Emirates https://t.co/QKPaC2Sg5P pic.twitter.com/BXOojuevdS
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 4, 2024
Arteta on the impact of Jakub Kiwior and Alex Zinchenko…
The way they train every single day and it’s not easy – for Jakub it was his first Premier League start, and it was Alex’s second [this season] after the first game here against Wolves. They both performed at the highest level against this kind of opposition, after not playing a lot, is very tough. So, very pleased and grateful for them.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Arteta on whether Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes will be available for Sunday…
Gabi was a big risk to play today because he felt something against West Ham. Sunday is going to be a possibility with Riccardo as well, let’s see how he reacts.
Source: Post-game press conference
7 – Arsenal had more shots from corners (7) than they did from open play (6) against Manchester United. Indeed, the Red Devils conceded two goals from corners in a Premier League match for the first time since January 2014 (v Chelsea). Targeted. pic.twitter.com/NHnzmR0hXb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 4, 2024
When you have a blip in the league you get written off. We stick together as a group and we knew the run of results were not good enough, now we’re starting to see a turn of that. People get carried away. You just need to be around it in February time. Liverpool have dropped points, they’re seven away so we will see what happens.
Arteta on recovering from poor form to win four in a row…
The will to win is there, the boys tried, we all tried our best to do that, it’s true that we went through a lot in that period, the schedule and the opposition that we played, a lot of things. But you have to react, it’s about what you do next. We’ve won four in a row, it doesn’t matter, we have to go to FUlham now and be better than them to try to win the game. it’s every three days, it’s crazy schedule, we’re going to need everybody and be mentally very strong because you’re going to have to go through those moments.
Source: Post-game press conference
The #Arsenal have won four consecutive league games against Man Utd for the first time ever
— Tom Ede (@TomEde1) December 4, 2024
Jurrien Timber on Arsenal’s set-piece prowess
They’re not the first team to struggle defending our corners. We’ve got to keep coming like this every time. We’ve just got to keep focusing on ourselves, win our games and we’ll see what happens.
Source: Premierleague.com
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Tony Adams on the quality of Rice’s and Saka’s corners…
It’s fabulous, and Saka on the other side, they have fantastic delivery. Arsenal are really capitalising on it. Declan Rice must be working every night, he’s putting it on a sixpence.
Source: Premierleague.com
22 – Arsenal have scored more goals from corners than any other side in the Premier League since the start of last season (21), while the two players with the most assists from set plays in this time are Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka (7 each). Formula. pic.twitter.com/N6bFNQwRcc
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 4, 2024
Roy Keane on United’s performance…
That was obviously their toughest night tonight and have come up well short. He [Amorim] will learn more from tonight. When you see a game like that against a decent team like Arsenal you see how big a job he has got ahead of him.
Source: Stick to Football Watchalong
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Ian Wright on Jurrien Timber’s celebration…
Jesus, look at the size of his tongue!
Source: Stick to Football Watchalong
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Dimitar Berbatov on United struggling to match Arsenal…
I admit that in the second half, the storm was there for Manchester United. Ruben Amorim said earlier that a storm was going to come for his team and it came tonight. The set-pieces were a big problem for them and Arsenal scored twice from them. Now it’s back to the training ground to fix the mistakes.
Source: Amazon Prime (via Premierleague.com)
ARSEnal 2 – United 0 pic.twitter.com/oEA0uQE97o
— Poorly Drawn Arsenal (@cantdrawarsenal) December 4, 2024
Although set-pieces is what won it, our overall play was much more dominant in the second half and we had many opportunities from open play too. We may not have been at our best, but we were still pretty darn good!
I’ve converted, I’ve become a Jover’s Witness!
it’s not a coincidence we won all those corners too, despite by now I’m sure the coaches are telling their teams one of the last things we want to give Arsenal is a corner. It shows we skillfully got the ball into such threatening situations that even an Arsenal corner was preferable to the opposition than the alternative, which is saying something.
Poorly dawn arsenal at the end to mock it after all the seriousness 🫡
That was an absurdly defensive approach from Amorim. He came here with 5 midfielders, 3 CBs and 2 wing backs, so they basically had a two man attack of Garnacho and Hojlund against one of the top defenses in the land. They duly went on to create nothing. Arsenal had ZInchenko and a very not match fit Kiwior on the left of our defense, and who did Amorim put out there to face them? Mason Mount. They deserved to lose the game just for that. Arsenal have gone to City or Liverpool with cautious game plans over the years, but… Read more »
They went so defensive that they man-marked Saka with another around just in case. Teams are prepared to accept a draw just to neutralise Saka’s threat. It hasn’t even been four years since this boy was playing leftback, and now top 5 attacking threats in the world.
Yeah, but just think what they’ll be like when the “new manager bounce” wears off.
What a joy to have Raya on goal.
Arteta knows best.
So calm and so skilled in possession, just like an outfield player sometimes, taking very high positions on our defensive line.
And to make that brilliant save when his hands where needed… oof.
So happy with the team today.
We have some absolute monsters in this squad. Look at these guys.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/51-epic-photos-our-win-over-manchester-united
Yes but we still need a top Striker to complete the jigsaw puzzle, l mean take a good look at the Alexander Isak goal 2nite now that’s the type of finisher iam talking about.
He was impressive tonight and not just the goal. His link play, his final ball and his running in the channels was top. Hardly any backlift on those passes or that shot. Defenders don’t see it coming. The stats don’t love him but I think those skills translate to a higher level.
I hate to contribute to the “Arsenal need a striker” narrative, but Isaac would be a great addition. Hard to see it happening before the summer and even then, the price might be a bit high. Aside from the price I also worry about his recent injury record. I’m still hoping that Jesús will get back to some semblance of his prior form, but it’s hard to see him as one of our important attacking threats beyond this season.
Isaac Newton? Even he could barely improve the accuracy of the balls Declan and Bukayo sent into the six yard box tonght.
Alexander Isak is a lovely striker, bit of a history of injuries though. Would that improve at our injury-riddled club or get far, far worse?
That was my favourite piece of commentary in years last night. After the final whistle, some discussion of how shite ManU were, culminating in; “they really need a decent striker from somewhere”.
I laughed..
“Decent team like Arsenal …”.
Roy Keane you embarrassing neanderthal – do FUCK OFF.
That’s high praise from him.
He can still fuck off.
Because.
“Declan Rice must be working every night, he’s putting it on a sixpence.”
How do you work on set pieces at night, can anyone explain what Tony means?
Same as the day. But at night.
Ah, the dark arts. I’ve heard of that.
Flood of the lights, thanks to Thomas Edison.
Tony’s comments remind me of when he asked George Graham for a five guinea raise and George said “not a shilling more for you!”. “How about a farthing then?” “Not even thrupence ha’penny!” Stroller bellowed. T’was hard in Thatcher times – so much so that Tony could spot a sixpence in the grass from the opposite side of the Highbury pitch. What was the question again?
“Decent”?. I bet that hurt Keane, but he can keep his “decent”. This Arsenal are the real deal
“a decent team like Arsenal”
– Cunty Gob Bollocks Keane
“Jesus, look at the size of his tongue!”
– Ian Wright
Yeah Ian, but look at the size of Roy’s butthurt we opened up on him tonight. It’s absolutely gaping!
Decent team my…err…Saliba’s goal scoring arse.
For those desperately trying to decalue the win just because it wasn’t from open play, perhaps they need a recap on how corner kicks come about. It means your opponent managed to get into your final third at the minimum, and limited your options so much that conceding a corner kick was the only alternative to conceding a goal. The 50:50 possession percentage is misrepresentative of the actual tilt of the game. 13:0 corner kick ratio says so. We threatened their goal at least 13 times to their zero if we only use the corners stat. Of course we did… Read more »
For those desperately trying to devalue the win just because it wasn’t from open play, perhaps they need a recap on how corner kicks come about. It means your opponent managed to get into your final third at the minimum, and limited your options so much that conceding a corner kick was the only alternative to conceding a goal. The 50:50 possession percentage is actually misrepresentative of the real tilt of the game. 13:0 corner kick ratio says so. It says we threatened their goal at least 13 times to their zero if we only use the corners stat. Of… Read more »
A point so well made it needed saying twice!
Amorim maybe overrated. He may not be the Messiah (Probably not) but what is beyong doubt in my mind is that he is a sore loser. As are the ex Manu “pundits” who offend the idea of balanced views.
Worse than all that are the mindless people who, unable to to stand Arsenal winning, crticise like brainless morons the method by which the poor Man Utd and their bad sport Manager are soundly beaten. They are as low as Sp*rs so hopefully they’ll both face relegation. There’s always hope.