Man Utd choke at Arsenal and allow title battle to become two-horse race
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Manchester United are spluttering – and possibly on the verge of choking completely.
After blowing the chance to go top of the table in midweek – when they crashed to rock-bottom Sheffield United at home – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Reds failed to respond on Saturday night.
And that means they are all but waving bitter rivals Manchester City and Liverpool towards a two-horse title race.
Okay, the opposition on Saturday was a lot better than on Wednesday, with Arsenal on a roll of superb form.
But still, the visitors knew they had to deliver a victory in north London to stay hot on the heels of Pep Guardiola’s leaders.
Instead, they huffed and puffed, without ever fully flicking on the engine and demonstrating they can cope with the pressure of life at the summit.
That is what genuine, authentic title contenders do. They shrug off the occasional, inevitable blip and come roaring back – and make a loud statement in the process.
From nowhere, United had grabbed pole position after Christmas. Yet suddenly, one appalling result meant fears they could collapse in equally unexpected, lightning fashion were very real.
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It’s what happens in the congested Covid 2020-21 campaign, after all. Fortunes fluctuate faster than ever amid the relentless fixture overload.
One minute up, one minute down. Just ask Arsenal, who were flying in November before sinking to an historic low and then storming back in spectacular style.
So, this was United’s chance to defy that pattern and nip doubts regarding their title credentials in the bud before they got out of hand and led to more finger pointing at their Norwegian boss.
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Amazingly, given the record of these two clubs and the top billing this clash is always guaranteed, it is eight years and counting since either ruled the domestic scene supreme at the end of a season.
However, United’s sensational form after losing to Arsenal at Old Trafford in November had catapulted them from also-rans to favourites in little over a month of action.
The 2-1 reverse to Chris Wilder’s men was their first defeat since that Gunners clash. If that sequence was impressive, it was nothing compared to their form on the road.
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They arrived in N5 unbeaten in 17 away dates – and on the back of this result have broken the club record of 18 held by United’s 1999 Treble winners.
Fair to say, at the moment that is as close as this class of 2021 crop are going to get to being mentioned in the same breath as those legends.
Had Edinson Cavani taken one of two great second-half chances, we might be thinking differently.
But the United hitman could not find the net with either when he should have done better – and that ensured his side are now three points behind City, having played a game more. Timber!
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Credit to Arsenal, though, who hold the all-time on-your-travels record – with 27 between 2003 and 2004 – and were in champion form despite their mediocre position just inside the top ten.
Mikel Arteta, much like Solskjaer in early December, appeared on the brink of the bullet over the festive period. But his troops have now taken 16 points from the last 21 available.
United will need a far bigger haul from their next 17 outings if they are to end their title drought
It could have been even worse, though, had Alexandre Lacazette not hit the bar midway through the second period.
As it was, these two clubs ended up producing their first goalless game in seven years.
- Manchester United FC
- Arsenal FC
- Premier League
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