Grit gets Arsenal vital win at Man Utd, but no statement of intent

Arsenal left Old Trafford on Sunday with a hugely important 1-0 victory, but it was a strange win that raised as many questions as it answered.

Was this the resilient performance of a team that can challenge for the title, or a lucky escape that showed how much work Mikel Arteta still has to do?

The truth is, it was a bit of both. The result was perfect, but the performance was not. Manchester United had more of the ball (61% possession) and far more shots (22), but Arsenal found a way to win thanks to some old habits: a clever set-piece and brilliant goalkeeping.

A tough day for new striker Gyokeres

Arsenal’s big summer signing is striker Viktor Gyokeres, and the team is trying a new, more direct style of play to suit him. Against United, however, the plan didn’t click.

Gyokeres looked isolated and was given very little service from his teammates. For the first time in 69 league games, he failed to have a single shot. Arteta admitted after the game that his team failed to create chances for the striker, missing “seven or eight situations” to play him through on goal.

As former player Daniel Sturridge said on Sky Sports, it takes time for a team to get used to a new striker’s runs. The problem wasn’t just up front. At the back, defender Riccardo Calafiori’s forward runs often left space for United’s Bryan Mbeumo to cause problems, leaving Arsenal looking more open than usual.

Familiar strengths get the job done

So how did Arsenal win? They relied on two familiar strengths.

First was their brilliance from set-pieces. Calafiori’s winning header was Arsenal’s 31st goal from a corner since the start of last season. That is miles ahead of the next best team, Liverpool, who have scored 20. When their main game plan isn’t working, Arsenal can still be a huge threat from corners and free-kicks.

Second was the performance of their goalkeeper. David Raya was outstanding, making several crucial saves to keep his team in the lead. This was the complete opposite of United’s keeper, Altay Bayindir, whose mistake allowed Arsenal to score their goal. As pundit Clinton Morrison said, “The difference was goalkeepers.”

A good sign for the season ahead?

Winning when you don’t play well is often called “the sign of champions,” and the Arsenal players celebrated hard with their fans at full-time.

“The team has to find that resilience throughout the season,” Arteta said after the match, acknowledging that his side has to improve but can take confidence from finding a way to win.

The three points are a fantastic start to the season. But the performance showed that Arteta’s main job is to get his new attackers to click. This gritty win gives them a platform to build from, but it’s clear there is plenty of room for improvement.