Man United unleash their new weapon as Arsenal become architects of own downfall

There is an air of Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer at the start of this latest interim period at Manchester United. There has been a lot of talk about the missing “DNA” of the club, whatever that may be. But under Michael Carrick, United are winning big games again – historically reflecting “the Manchester United way” – and just like under Solskjaer, a player’s rebirth is at the heart of things.

With Solskjaer, it was a 21-year-old Marcus Rashford, revitalized after being misused by Jose Mourinho. With Carrick, it’s Patrick Dorgu. The Dane has found new life in a United shirt since being promoted to winger, a year after being signed as a defensive solution by Ruben Amorim. His instrumental performance against the Gunners, including a scream few could have imagined, is further proof he has spent the last 12 months held back by the former United boss.

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The opening stages reflected the ghost of Dorgu from Old Trafford’s past. Much of Arsenal’s initial joy came from the right flank and Dorgu was forced to return to his old position further out, soon finding himself fighting a losing battle against Bukayo Saka.

It was this duel that sparked the Gunners’ opener, Saka calmly sending it over the jockeying defender’s leg to Martin Odegaard, who forced the issue by firing it into the six-yard box occupied by Jurrien Timber and Lisandro Martinez, attached at the hip. Paul Scholes had warned Martinez not to ride his horse too high and hard after impressing in last week’s derby, and perhaps the Argentine should have listened, Odegaard’s pass bouncing off Martinez’s heel and into his own net. “When you start talking and yelling, this game has a habit of coming to bite you in the ass,” Scholes said. He was on the spot; it was a very poor goal to concede, Martinez not reacting at all to the ball thrown at him.

But from the moment Arsenal took the lead, they too became seemingly determined to be the architects of their own downfall. Bryan Mbeumo found himself on goal straight from the restart as the Gunners carelessly gave it away in midfield, but they were released when Bruno Fernandes exploded wildly wide from the cutback.

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Mbeumo, United’s top scorer in his first season at Old Trafford, perhaps should have gone it alone and he made sure not to repeat the mistake when a similar opportunity was presented to him on a silver platter by the opposition. As United’s press closed in, Martin Zubimendi panicked as he received a hospital pass from William Saliba, and trying to pass it back to his goalkeeper, the Spaniard put Mbeumo – in his direct line of sight as he played the ball – clear, with the Cameroonian rounding David Raya to equalize.

“We gave them the goal,” lamented Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, struggling to understand why errors multiplied among his players as they allowed United back into the competition. “Mistakes are part of football. It was very different from us, but we gave them the goal and the hope, and that changed the energy.” And with renewed morale, accompanied by the momentum of their new weapon, the visitors came out in great shape in the second half.

Although fragile at the back, Dorgu looks like a new recruit. It’s something we saw against Newcastle when Amorim was still in charge, making one wonder why the stubborn Portuguese boss moved him back to left-back before his eventual sacking. This reflected his inability to adapt, even when better alternatives presented themselves to him.

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Dorgu’s superb volley five minutes after the restart, crashing under Raya’s bar, put an exclamation point on Amorim’s error. While Arsenal were far too easily blown open by the combination of Dorgu and Fernandes, it would be unfair to attribute such a spectacular effort to defensive shortcomings. Arsenal didn’t help themselves, but nothing could stop that.

For the rest of the competition, Dorgu often found himself the most advanced United player on the pitch. He had been allowed to relinquish his defensive duties, with Carrick aware that the opposition half was in his place. That was until he was sent off injured – the Red Devils will be praying it isn’t too serious.

Set pieces appeared to come to Arsenal’s rescue once again when Mikel Merino forced the ball over the line in the 84th minute after a scrum in goal, despite Benjamin Sesko’s best efforts on the line. It was their 15th set piece this season in the English top flight. Avoiding defeat would have been a huge relief for the Championship leaders who, under renewed pressure from Aston Villa after their victory at Newcastle earlier in the day, had not particularly threatened after falling behind.

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But an individual burst from Matheus Cunha three minutes later, who found himself in space to unleash a curler after three Arsenal bodies engaged and failed to stop Kobbie Mainoo, sealed the Gunners’ first home defeat of the season.

“We’re going to win the championship,” sang the jubilant away player at full-time. They may be getting a little ahead of themselves. But with Arsenal’s lead at the top reduced to four points, seeds of doubt may have been sown over whether the Gunners will achieve that elusive feat.