Manchester United and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, March 9.
The result kept the Gunners 15 points behind Liverpool, with a game in hand.
With fewer than 10 matches remaining, Liverpool’s lead could prove decisive.
Meanwhile, with the UEFA Champions League title a tough challenge, failing to win the Premier League could mean yet another trophyless season for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta Must Be Ruing the Lack of a Proper Striker
Arsenal have been without a proper striker for quite some time now and much has been discussed about it.
Against Ruben Amorim’s side, the Gunners fielded Mikel Merino as the false nine, but their sole goal came from a midfielder, Declan Rice.
United were resolute in their defence, playing with a 5-4-1 formation to neutralize Arsenal’s front-three.
The Gunners tried to overload the central area on the edge of the penalty box and tried to create shooting space, but the Red Devils held firm.
Mikel Arteta’s men played quick passes to maintain their high tempo, but the Red Devils kept slowing the game down and maintained numerical supremacy inside their own half.
When Bruno Fernandes gave the home side a lead in the dying minutes of the first half with a brilliant free-kick, Arsenal knew that they had an uphill task ahead of them in an attempt to ensure three points.
Ethan Nwaneri was contained by Diogo Dalot to a large extent and Leandro Trossard made some sporadic runs into the box, which were not enough.
Merino dropped back quite frequently to provide an extra man in the midfield, but United did not have a problem with that.
As Liverpool have at least two players in Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez, who can play as the No. 9, the contrast with Arsenal could not have been more stark.
With an out-of-form Raheem Sterling warming the bench, Arteta’s decision to sign the 30-year-old forward on loan is hardly having any justification either.
Injuries to Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus have definitely made Arsenal’s job tougher, but Arsenal have only themselves to blame for not utilizing the transfer windows to sign a striker.
Signing Riccardo Calafiori and Merino seems to have little justification, when Arsenal actually had multiple full-backs and holding midfielders even prior to signing them.
Should the trophyless streak continue, Arteta might have a lot of explaining to do.
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Liverpool’s Title Win Feels Inevitable Now
The Reds have lost just once in their 29 league matches so far. Unless they suffer a few more defeats before the season ends, they should cruise to their 20th title.
Arne Slot’s men have a well-balanced squad, and Arsenal would do well to take a page from their book.
However, Arteta appears too stubborn to embrace common sense.
Whether his failure to deliver a title remains acceptable to the club’s management remains to be seen.
This season will mark over two decades since Arsenal last won a major title.
Notably, Arteta has spent six of those years at the helm.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
Recording Date: 09.03.2025