Arsenal’s first home loss of the season came with a sense of poetic justice. Two outright worldies had proved the difference between another Gunners victory via set-piece debauchery and defeat. Anti-football was beaten by its antithesis: joga bonito.
Mikel Arteta’s side were the architects of their own downfall against a Manchester United side in the midst of a revival. Having dominated the first half an hour and taken a deserved lead, albeit through an own goal, the league leaders capitulated in a seven-minute spell that saw Bryan Mbeumo gifted two gilt-edged chances. He took the second one.
