Premier League: Arsenal beaten in ‘Fergie time’ by Man Utd

Marouane Fellaini’s late header spoils
Arsene Wenger’s last trip to Old Trafford

One-Minute Read

There was neither passion nor pace, and for the fans little
excitement until in stoppage time Marouane Fellaini headed home
Ashley Young’s cross to give United a 2-1 win.

The Belgian’s goal ensured Champions League will return to
Old Trafford next season as United can not now finish outside the
top four, but yet it was another curiously flat performance from
the home side.

A penny for the thoughts of Alex Ferguson, who looked on
from the stands after warmly embracing Arsene Wenger before
kick-off and presenting him with a gift. The old sparring partners
have long since hung up their gloves and the aggression that they
instilled in their respective clubs has been replaced by a genial
indifference from the two sets of players.

At least Arsenal could point to the eight changes made by
Wenger three days after their Europa League semi-final against
Atletico Madrid – and the return leg this Thursday – as an excuse
for their lack of cut and thrust.

Instead Wenger went for youth – selecting a starting XI
with an average age of 24 years and 67 days – Arsenal’s youngest
line-up in the Premier League since August 2011. On that occasion
they were thrashed 8-2 by United at Old Trafford, so yesterday’s
2-1 defeat was a testament either to this generation of young
Gunners or an indictment of a United side that lacks incision and
invention.

They started brightly, with Paul Pogba putting them ahead
on 16 minutes when he poked home the rebound after Alexis Sanchez’s
attempt was diverted on to the post by Hector Bellerin. Arsenal
then levelled after the break when Henrikh Mkhitaryan was allowed
too much time and space by his former teammates, and he thanked
them by stroking the ball past David de Gea from the edge of the
area.

Then came Fellaini’s late goal that left Arsenal still
searching for their first league away win of 2018. “It was
unfortunate because we had a positive performance but we paid for
the fatigue in the final 20 minutes from players who are not used
to it,” said Wenger, who has failed to win at Old Trafford in his
last 11 matches.

On the plus side for the Frenchman – or rather for his
successor, whoever that might be – there were some encouraging
displays from the young Gunners, notably 20-year-old Ainsley
Maitland-Niles and 21 year-old Konstantinos Mavropanos, the Greek
defender making his league debut.

“Maitland-Niles is slowly becoming the player I think he
can be in defensive midfield,” said Wenger. “He can create as well.
Mavropanos, in training he has shown top quality.”

Then came the question that must have hurt the Arsenal
manager, still upset at the manner of his impending departure.
“Look, my successor certainly will have watched this game today,”
he said when asked about the health of the squad he bequeaths to
the new man. “Hopefully, he will come to positive conclusions for
the players. For them, it’s whether they can be part of the future
of Arsenal Football Club. I think some of them have shown today
that they can be, 100%.”

While Wenger is about to become history at the Emirates,
Jose Mourinho is still struggling to build an empire at Old
Trafford. In his second season the United manager long since gave
up on the title race and a disappointing Champions League campaign
will ensure that regardless whether they beat Chelsea to win the FA
Cup next month, Mourinho needs a much better season next year if
he’s to stay in his job, and he knows it.

“I think if [we] finish second it is the first time for
five years, so since Sir Alex left,” he said. “OK, progress,
progress at many levels, but not enough to be first instead of
second and not enough to win the Champions League instead of the
Europa League.”

Premier League results

• Liverpool 0 Stoke City 0 
• Burnley 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 
• Crystal Palace 5 Leicester City 0 
• Huddersfield Town 0 Everton 2 
• Newcastle United 0 West Bromwich Albion 1 
• Southampton 2 AFC Bournemouth 1 
• Swansea City 0 Chelsea 1 
• West Ham United 1 Manchester City 4 
• Manchester United 2 Arsenal 1

Tonight’s Premier League fixture

• Tottenham Hotspur vs. Watford (8pm, live on Sky Sports)