Arsenal closed the gap to league leaders Liverpool to seven points and consigned Ruben Amorim to a first defeat as Manchester United manager with a 2-0 win over the Portuguese’s side in north London.
Two set-piece goals in the second half were the difference, Jurrien Timber flicking home Declan Rice’s corner to break the deadlock and William Saliba bundling over the line after Thomas Partey headed another corner back across a packed six-yard box.
Amorim’s United went close through Matthijs de Ligt’s header but struggled to make inroads against an Arsenal defence which was missing both Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori.
Here are three talking points from the match…
Arsenal’s set-pieces the difference yet again
“Set piece again, ole ole,” was the unusual chant around the Emirates during yet another big occasion when Arsenal’s prowess from dead-balls was the difference.
Even without Gabriel, who has comfortably been their biggest threat from set-pieces this season, United simply could not cope with the hosts' quality from corners.
Arsenal's new routine of grouping players at either post was hugely effective, with Timber’s opener a carbon copy of Gabriel’s goal which broke the deadlock in the 5-2 win over West Ham at the weekend.
Saliba knew relatively little about his goal after Partey headed Bukayo Saka's corner back across the box, but it was a result of the panic Arsenal inspired in the United box from every dead ball.
Mikel Arteta’s side have now scored 22 goals from set pieces since the start of last season, and Partey and Mikel Merino squandered fine chances to add to that tally here.
Throughout the first half, Arsenal struggled to establish their rhythm against a well-organised opponent, but Arteta’s side always have a way of scoring in cagey games.
Arsenal increasingly feel in a league of their own from dead-balls in the Premier League this season, giving them an aura that led to jitters in the United box every time either Saka or Rice stood over the ball in the corner.
Credit must go, again, to both Arteta and his set-piece coach Nicolas Jover for setting the standard for the rest of the league to try to match.
With the top-flight more compact than ever, particularly after Liverpool dropped points, Arsenal’s quality from dead balls could prove decisive this season.
Amorim’s organised United show promise
United are too big a club to take much solace from a two-goal defeat but there were some reasons for encouragement for the new head coach.
United struggled with Arsenal’s intensity after the break, and were fortunate not to concede further goals, but Amorim could still point to set-pieces as the only difference between the two sides in the end.
In the first half, United frustrated Arsenal with an disciplined display, Amorim setting up with a back five out of possession and four midfielders who pressed smartly and held their positions. Rasmus Hojlund worked hard as an outlet up top, occasionally threatening to get in behind.
United were canny at slowing the game down, fouling and being fouled while taking their time to build out from the back.
It was not exactly pretty but it was a start, and a clear improvement of Erik ten Hag’s infamous ‘doughnut’ that was so easy for a side like Arsenal to play through.
If it were not for a brilliant David Raya save to claw out De Ligt’s header from Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick at 1-0, United may have snatched a leveller and made more of a fist of the second half.
Arsenal showed Amorim and his players the levels they must reach, but United at least feel like a club with a solid base to build from once again.
Arsenal hitting their stride
Arsenal’s wobble in late October and November now feels like a distant memory another impressive result, which made it four wins on the bounce since the November international break.
Arteta’s side are building momentum at the right time going into the hectic festive period, and they increasingly feel like the hard-to-beat side of the second half of last season again.
They found a new level in the second half here, with Rice, Saliba, Timber and Jakub Kiwior, who was impressive in standing in for Gabriel, helping to overpower the visitors.
Arteta can take particular pride that his side ground out a big result without Calafiori and Gabriel, as Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko deputised well.
The question is whether Arsenal will have enough to reel in Liverpool but the Reds’ 3-3 draw at Newcastle should give the Gunners some hope, and ensured the gap is a little narrower going into their derby against Fulham at the weekend.
