TOTL again. If only for one more short stay. Three point were mandatory today. But this was a pretty grim game. We were pretty shit. Thankfully United have perfected playing like shit all season long.
The team picked itself again. Within the first two minutes we were swarming all over them and created some half chances. But this was a strange game indeed. United really are pretty useless. Their team is unrecognizable as a United team. They really are a team decimated by injuries and with the Most Boring Manager of all time.
This was a strangely subdued performance by Arsenal. Arguably our worst showing since Fulham. But all that matters is that we won. Somehow, we created, care of Casemiro playing at walking pace a goal through White then Have-that setting up Trossard. It’s quite amazing how many important goals Trossard has scored for us. I’m sure I said this last week as well. He rarely scores the last goal in a 5-0 victory. Which if course is why his unfortunate miss against Villa will likely cost us the league title.
When White played that pass to Have-that I just waited for the offside flag to go up. Out of shot though Casemiro was taking a lunchtime stroll out of their penalty area. And then Have-that played the perfect pass to set up Trossard. It’s fair to say most of our team had a quiet game today. But, here again, Have-that created yet another goal for us. It’s remarkable how important he has become for this team.
White though had one of his quietest games. At times he was being turned inside out by Garnacho. And often losing his man. Saka provided little protection today and seemed pretty uninvolved. There were so many sloppy passes that I lost count. A prime example was Partey – the master of the bad pass – losing the ball on the edge of our area only for Hojlund to then slip over.
We seemed to degenerate down to the level of United today and that’s something we’ve not done for a while. They really were pretty useless. But we were so average that, at times, we even made Amrabat look like a half decent player. It was such a frustrating performance. And surprising given the importance of this game. We lacked energy, fluency and any rhythm. There was just no sparkle.
United structurally were like a poor man’s Porto. They flooded the midfield and starved Odegaard of the ball. Rice was barely involved and Partey was completely ineffective. So, while the backline passed the ball around, no-one was able to get free and create space to receive the ball.
Amongst the mediocrity on the pitch one man shone like a beacon. Saliba was head and shoulders the best player on the field. As White and others made mistakes Saliba was there to clean up and regain control. On the infrequent occasions when their players broker through he would marshal them away from goal and prevent any real threat. He exuded calmness and pose. He is surely the best center half in the premier league.
Raya had a few important saves to make but most of the time he just held the ball at his feet and waiting for players to find some space. As Wenger would say, today we played with the handbrake on. Maybe it was the importance of the occasion and our history at Old Trafford. Given their pathetic line-up I thought we’d slaughter them today rather than struggle to hold onto a 1-0 win. Not that they actually threatened us. There was a sloppiness to our game and lack of decisiveness on the ball. We seemed happy to comfortably pass the ball sideways. We seemed unsure how to play against a team that is completely dysfunctional.
I’d been looking forward to this game. After the hard work of playing Sp*rs away and Chelsea, I’d always been confident of this fixture. Especially as they were missing Fernandez, Rashford and many others. I did not expect such a dull and tedious game. A game lacking in any real quality. After our goal we seemed content to just manage the game out. To our credit we were able to do this. But this was not a performance you’d expect from a team looking to win the league. Yet, we got the three points. And that’s what counts at this time of the season.
So, we go into the last match against Everton still in contention. Marginally. With City due to play those wankers on Tuesday, we really can’t expect to actually still be TOTL come Sunday. Even if those wankers could muster a performance I’m not holding my breath. Big Ange will play his predictable high line and provide ample opportunities for City to score multiple times. While I certainly expected Fulham to have put up more of a fight I have no expectations for Tuesday.
I won’t be watching the game and will merely check on the result an hour after the game has concluded. City will pull that lot apart and make them look as weak and vunerable as they are. Richarlson will predictably miss a few open chances and Son will be invisible. As their imbecile fans will actually rejoice in losing to City. As incapable of they are of witnessing their team winning any trophies all they can do is pray that we can’t lift the title. Of course, we gave up any realistic expectation of that after the Villa loss. But that lot can’t even muster a team with a backbone. Remember how they were 10 games into the season. All smug and full of themselves. And now they’ll be lucky to get into the NoHoppa Cup. They will lose to City and then rejoice in us not being denied the title. That’s the extent of their aspirations.
At least against Everton we should see the return of our vibrant, attacking, open football. None of the dreary action that we witnessed today. I don’t mind too much. It was, as they say, a professional performance against a bang up average team. But, oh was it boring. Come Sunday, though we can enjoy our final game of a wonderful season where we have seen this team evolve and excel. The progress we have made is self-evident. It would be nice to see ESR get a few minutes at the end of the game. It would be nice to see Partey on the bench. Unfortunately, I’m losing patience with him. Fearful of his next lazy pass or being caught on the ball. I would have loved to have seen Jorginho come on much earlier today. Everton should be a more entertaining game. One where we can celebrate the achievement of this team. And look forward to a bright future.
-LB7