IF ONLY ROY KEANE could have put down his microphone and clambered from the Sky TV stage on to the pitch.
To bring down his very own fire and brimstone on this Manchester United side.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s spot kick earned Arsenal the three points
The first person he would have headed for would have been Paul Pogba.
Bruno Fernandes would not have been far behind.
Yes even the great Bruno was rubbish today.
In fact there was little urgency about anyone in a United shirt.
Quite simply Arsenal were at it and United were not.
Arsenal wanted it and United did not seem to mind either way.
That is unforgivable.
Some way for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to mark his 100th game in charge.
Bukayo Saka went close with a header in the first half
Every time he seems to have turned the corner the team takes him back to square one.
In his positive programme notes, Solskjaer said: “I think everybody can see now that this group is coming together.
“With each passing game we’re showing our quality and spirit…”
Yes against PSG and RB Leipzig that was the case, we could see that.
But there was none of that quality and spirit on show today.
It is simply not good enough for a Manchester United team to turn it on one day and take their foot off the pedal the next.
There are six games gone in the league and they are 15th.
They have played four home games and taken just one point, with two goals for and ten against.
I bet they wish they could stay on the road, as they’ve won their last six away.
In fact, their last league defeat away from Old Trafford was to Liverpool last January.
Mason Greenwood had United’s only shot on target
The winning goal came from the penalty spot with Pierre –Emerick Aubameyang converting for his first league goal since the opening day win over Fulham.
How he and Arsenal needed that after losing three of their last four league games.
The penalty was conceded because Pogba was simply not alert to the danger when Hector Bellerin darted into the box.
Bellerin got past him, got to the ball first and Pogba’s outstretched leg caught him.
It was no surprise really.
He had been off the pace all game, ambling around. He never seems to sprint.
As Keane himself put it: “For all Pogba’s talent, he should be in this team, but he doesn’t do enough.
“He doesn’t do the other side of the game, he doesn’t show enough spirit, enough fight.
“He’s got talent but that’s not enough for me to play in midfield for Manchester United, you need more than that.”
Aubameyang’s goal was his first in the Premier League since the opening day of the season
As for the rest of United’s midfield he added: “If you think Fred, McTominay and Matic in midfield will get Man United back to the heights of winning titles, then you’re living in cuckoo land.”
Fernandes could not escape criticism either. Subbed on 75 minutes after one of those games where he seems to go into a bit of a sulk.
There was barely any creation and United only seemed to come to life after they went behind.
The first half was particularly poor from United, although they did have the only shot on target.
That came in the 21st minute when Marcus Rasford curled a defence splitting pass into the path of Mason Greenwood who had darted unnoticed into the left hand side of the area.
His shot on goal was powerful but Bernd Leno saved with his feet at the near post.
A first win in three Premier League matches lifts Arsenal into the top half of the tableCredit: EPA
That was about it in terms of an attacking threat from United in the first half.
Arsenal looked sharper all around the park with Bellerin and Kieran Tierney getting forward and pinning back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw.
They had their chances too, first when Bellerin fired the ball across the six-yard box and Aubameyang just failed to connect with an outstretched leg at the far post.
Just past the half-hour mark he did supply a great chance when he controlled a ball into the area and teed up Alexandre Lacazette eight yards out only for him to completely miss his kick.
Willian then grazed the bar with a shot that left David de Gea flat-footed and when Bellerin crossed from the right Bukayo Saka sent a free header over.
You expected a reaction from United in the second-half but it didn’t come.
A late Donny van de Beek effort that hit Mohammed Elneny’s knee, the goalkeeper’s head and the post was as close as they came to earning an undeserved point.
They ended the match with just two shots on target, as did Arsenal but it was Mikel Arteta’s side who fully deserved this.
United deserved a visit from Mr Keane.
Man Utd vs Arsenal – Watch LIVE, channel info and kick-off time
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
