It says something about how Mikel Arteta has raised the standards at Arsenal that a 1-0 win away to Manchester United can prompt stylistic criticisms and forensic analysis.
For a long time, Arsenal would have done anything for a victory at Old Trafford. This was just their third win here from their past 19 league games. “Now I go into the dressing room, we won and they’re not happy,” Arteta told his post-match press conference. “It’s a good sign.”
Throughout the game, Arteta did not look entirely happy either. While Arsenal showed typically stout defending to keep United at bay, when it came to the attack, Arsenal were wasteful.
That’s not to say they missed presentable shooting opportunities — most of the time, they didn’t get that far. Arsenal were actually outshot by 22 to nine. Their issue was before that.
“There were seven, eight situations when the ball is completely open to play through and we are on and we’re attacking the ‘keeper,” lamented Arteta. “And we give that ball away and then it becomes a basketball game.”
