There was good news for an all-conquering Arsenal side at Old Trafford. Not, admittedly, the Arteta Invincibles, who lost that tag, their five-game winning start to the season giving way to defeat. But the actual Invincibles, whose uniqueness spans eras. (The “Invincibles” did of course lose to Middlesbrough in the semi-finals of the League Cup, Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.) Only Tottenham and Manchester City are left unbeaten in the Premier League and one might be beaten when they face each other on Saturday.
But as Arsene Wenger’s class of 2004 can testify, Old Trafford can be a graveyard of dreams. They went 49 games without losing before Manchester United prevailed and pizza flew. Mikel Arteta’s modern-day league leaders won five in a row before United overcame them. A statement victory for Erik ten Hag was a result to rue for Arteta. “We should come here and win,” he said.
