Ruben Amorim suffered his first league defeat since December 2023 at Arsenal – and his first Premier League defeat was a reality check of the task ahead of him at Manchester United.
The Portuguese, who had been handed an incredibly dominant role in charge of Sporting in his homeland, had warned before the match that a storm was coming his way despite their 4-0 win over Everton last weekend.
“The storm will come. We will have difficult moments and in some matches we will be discovered,” he had said in his pre-match press conference. That storm arrived at the Emirates Stadium in the second half as Arsenal corners rained into United's six-yard box and Jurrien Timber and William Saliba hit the net.
It was the first time since January 2014 that United have conceded two goals from corners in a Premier League match.
But defending set-pieces wasn't the only problem on display. Amorim will have learned exactly where his side are and where they need to improve from this loss…
Competition fitness
Amorim said there is currently a “time limit” on certain players in matches, given the need to resolve their injury problems and return them to full fitness. Tyrell Malacia's withdrawal at half-time – after doing well to restrict Bukayo Saka in the first half in his first Premier League appearance since May 2023 – was proof of that. As did Harry Maguire's replacement on the hour mark. Amorim also referred to Mason Mount and Leny Yoro.
It was also reflected in Amorim's team selection, with the six changes Man Utd made the most from one Premier League match to another since the final day of the 2022/2023 season, when an FA Cup final was to prepare for.
The starting XI raised eyebrows as Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee had each scored twice against Everton last time out but were subsequently left on the bench. But Amorim – as he did after the Ipswich draw – explained how to manage the training load by rotating his team.
Offensive threat
These changes make it difficult to build playing patterns and consistency of performance and the changed front three had little impact here – nor did the substitutions they replaced in attacking areas.
Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho had no chance. Mount had the fewest touches of any starter. Zirkzee was desperate when a second-half lay-off missed his target by a wide margin, ending the prospect of a United counter, but Rashford's key contribution was botching an attempted tap-in as he tried to clear the ball, handing Arsenal the corner they scored. their second goal of.
Bruno Fernandes, in the deeper role in central midfield, provided a few shots but wasn't the creative force he can be and United ultimately couldn't move through the gears when they needed to in the second half.
Matthijs de Ligt's header, which resulted in an excellent save from David Raya, was the only real moment of serious threat for United.
Their expected goals totals under Amorim now stand at 0.8, 1.07, 0.31 in games against Ipswich, Everton and Arsenal.
“We worked a lot on the build-up,” Amorim said. “You can see the structure and the idea. But in the last part, in the last third, you can see that we have to improve, be more aggressive and have more ideas.”
The positives…
Yoro's first appearance for Man Utd, after breaking his foot against Arsenal in pre-season, was a definite plus for Amorim. The young centre-back, who played on the right of the back three when he came on in the second half, stretched to put a dangerous cross from Saka behind him and made a good block as Leandro Trossard looked set to score.
Amad Diallo also seems to fit this system well. He was partly an exception to United's attacking problems and produced some exciting dribbles down the right, but like his teammates he was unable to ignite that spark into a substantial contribution to getting United back into the game.
Amorim warned that there would be difficult moments as he tries to develop his style of play. Wednesday evening was one of them. And more will follow. But it will be clear to Amorim – and anyone watching – where United need to improve.
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