Leno's a real fecker, that he is!

I hope both Ceballos and Xhaka drops down the order after this. Elneny was everything Xhaka wasn't. His grit, determination and energy to impose on the game was tremendous. And he threads those forward passes very quickly. The loan spell must have ignited a belief in him. I had slatted him once or twice before, and am more than happy to eat humble pie now. Partey showed great mobility. He lost the ball a couple times, and also just as quickly was back in it to win the ball back. Xhaka would not have been able to do that. He would have lost the ball, and stand like a statue for a split-second, look around in hope for help, and will then try to get back to defend after that. He is a good player, but does not have the mobility to win back lost balls. Ceballos is a ball distributor in midfield, no more than that, and slows us down all the time.

I would like to see Nelson instead. I think he will bring more to the game. Pépé falls over too easily. He is too lightweight and defenders know that. A slight nudge when he is on the move, and down he goes.

Yes, Willock and AMN must be given more game time.

A Man Utd supporting person I know said it was a combination of them not playing well (he was particularly harsh on Pogba) and us playing better than our last match. He thought the penalty was very soft. I remind EVERY Man Utd fan about Rooney's dive to end the streak so any comment on soft penalties regarding us is non starter.

He thought a draw would have been a fairer result because a few inches more and the ball that ricocheted off Leno would have went as well as hitting the woodwork.

Maybe sour grapes but he has some points.

And if Willian’s shot had been fractionally lower. And if....... etc etc

Sorry mate but Nelson isnt there yet, Pépé frustrates but has the quality to win matches and provide match winning moments. Look at his finish againest Dundalk, zero back lift and bang top corner. City in the semi, lovely cross floated over for Aubameyang bang. We have seen little of that from Nelson yet. Like Leno and holding I think people are over infatuated with pepes weaker moments and and fail to see the good things he does.

Partey, 31 of 55 passes were forward passes yesterday. Keane summed him up well that he isn’t just a good defensive mid, or a good 6 or good 8, he’s simply an all round good central midfielder who does it all

I agree Top Gun. Nelson, at this point in time, is no more than a useful squad back up, like Willock who I’ve also seen mentioned. Pépé presently has much more to offer.

At the end of the day Arsenal were comfortably better than Manchester United and fully deserved the win. Okay, I can understand their fans trying to claim something different but that’s a view coming from their own bias rather than realism.

I can see this peculiar prem season getting some order restored soon enough. With the games crammed in injuries and fatigue will mount up meaning those with the deepest squads will cope better. Look at Everton, they were flying with a fully fit squad, then Richarlison and Digne suspended and Coleman and Rodrigues injured and they've lost 2 on the bounce. Wolves and Leicester have seriously good starting 11's but not much in reserve. Southampton might have lost Ings for a while if his knee injury is serious. It will still be a very competitive league but I don't expect anyone other than the big 6 to be filling the top 4 spots at the end of the season.

Quite. It is grasping at straws. Other than the deflected cross off the post, a long range pea roller from Matic and a header from Maguire I can't recall us ever looking in any danger of conceding. Arsenal dominated the ball, made all the attacking moves had 2 good chances just nicked off the strikers toes by last ditch defending, Aubameyang just wide, Willian hit the bar, Saka free header...and the most important stat of all, we scored 1 and let in none.

Every report I've seen of the match makes it very clear it was a well deserved win.

The lack of goals is a concern, but it can be put to one side for a 1-0 win away at Man U. That win had been a long time coming, and an away win at a big 6 side gets rid of that stat that is always churned out - I thought the stat always needed a bit of a caveat in that we'd beaten the big teams on plenty of occasions in cup finals, cup semi finals etc - we beat them when we were winning a trophy due to beating them. Of course I'd have loved a few more away wins in the league but I'll happily take beating them in cup finals.

Molde at home next, I'm expecting quite a changed side considering the mental and physical effort that went in to the game yesterday. Must be starts for Nelson, Willock, Nketiah, Pépé, Cédric, Xhaka, Ceballos, Runnasson, Mustafi

It’s weird really. Gabriel has turned out to be what I had hoped that Saliba would be.

So made up with that performance and win yesterday.
We were so much more fluid and offensive and seemed sharper.
Its days like this that show that Arteta is having a significant influence on us and its good to see proof of it on days like this.
I was a bit worried about our new found solidity having a detrimental effect on our offensive game but yesterday the balance was just right.
Elneny and Partey were superb as was Gabriel. What a signing he is turning out to be.
Physical aggressive and always in the back of a defender to intercept the ball. Money well spent.
Was worried Aubameyang might miss the penalty but he stuck it away calmly.
First win there since 2006 but as Rich pointed out it has conveniently been forgotton that we have been beating big teams in the cups....
Weird how Everton and Villa after flying starts have now lost 2 in a row.
Really bunched up up there

Yes, when it comes to injustices in Arsenal-Man U games, that penalty should always be the yardstick. The stink of it lingers all these years on.

Arsenal have the best defence in the league.

Liverpool are top with the most goals conceded - first time that has happened at any point of the season since 1992

Nelson will hopefully get opportunities as a sub and in the domestic cups. But Pépé definitely has more to offer at present. He's just bubbling under at the moment.

Top Gun. You are right. That finish against Dundalk was a thing of beauty.

The penalty wasn't even the worst decision in that game. Ferdinand should have been sent off, Van Nistlerooy rakes Cole's knee right in front of the linesman and should have been sent off (got a retrospective 3 game ban) and Neville. P and G made so many yellow card fouls, along with Rooney and Scholes they were simply given total license to kick any Arsenal player that day. No surprise the ref was the spineless Mike Riley who now runs the referee organisation in this country.
I'm not a fan of Mike Dean but give me him any day of the week over the likes of Riley. Dean revels in being the showman, the ref that isn't phased by making a big decision under lots of pressure - that in itself brings its own annoyances as a fan but at least he seems equally bad/good for every team as I think he genuinely sets out to prove he won't be phased by reputation or intimidation. Rather than that gutless refs like Riley.
It remains for me the single biggest disgraceful refereeing performance I've ever seen which hasn't been proven to be corrupt

Yep, and totally suited to the league. I know I'm not the only one who has been crying out for pace and power to come back in to the side, Soc has definitely been beating that drum as well. I don't necessarily think Gabriel and Partey are speed merchants but they are as quick as they need to be in this league, and half the battle with pace is the reaction and the mobility and acceleration to get there not about how fast you can run 50 yards at top pace. The strength and physicality both displayed yesterday was superb, tight to strikers, winning second balls, making tackles. Both already look like bargains - particularly Gabriel who was more of an unknown quantity.

The current good form of Elneny makes you realise that the career of a professional footballer can be a fragile thing. There he was, largely forgotten by the fans, and when remembered, usually on our disposals list. It is always warming to see an underdog have his day. He is clearly a man of character so best of luck to him. Well done to Arteta for perceptive management.

Yet.

And I say that simply because of the sheer number and obviousness of the fouls; he can’t hide behind not seeing all the fouls, no way.

Maybe corrupt is not the word, but Riley had been got at somehow by Ferguson. No doubt in my mind about that.

Well said

I don't usually go on about refs because their job is the hardest one in football, and back then it was even harder for them - no VAR to assist. However, as you say, the officiating in that match was so one-sided it leaves the stench of corruption. Anyone will accept the ref being up against it at Old Trafford, what with the crowd, Ferguson and huge media bias in favour of United, but that day was plain wrong. Inevitablty The Invincibles would have to lose, and United were always a team likely to do it, but Riley was their key asset.

I suspect you’re right john1. To me, ‘corruption’ often implies some kind of backhander. Routinely financial, of course, but there are plenty of things other than money that can given. More than Manchester United paying funds into Riley’s bank account, giving him a new car, a free holiday or whatever, myself I wonder if it might have been linked to Riley being unduly influenced by Ferguson.

I’m not even suggesting that Ferguson directly contacted Riley to tell him to favour Manchester United during the game. I reckon it might have been down to Riley feeling intimidated by Ferguson. Even a bit frightened by him, making him eager to avoid giving decisions that Ferguson wouldn’t approve of. Basically, Riley wanting to keep in Ferguson’s good books.

I'd love to have seen the legend that is Pépé in his day.

Are we still supposed to finish 11th or worse?

Elneny is a great example of why Arteta stands above Solskjaer and Lampard (as similar 'new' Prem managers). Arteta has not only improved individual players who were seemingly surplus to requirements he's built a clear system and has taken a group of players who were deemed 'uncoachable' by many in the media (and fans - include myself in that) and made them in to an organised group off the ball. Oh, and he's also won 2 trophies.

Lampard and Ole deserve credit for the sporadic performances they have got but compare the resources each has had and the starting point or squad each inherited and Arteta has simply out coached both

https://twitter.com/i/status/1323022003109023750

Absolutely brilliant

This is going to sound crazy and I'm prepared to be criticised for it, but I'd take Pogba if he was willing to come and accept Arsenal level wages.

I think there is a good player in there. Mourinho broke his spirit. OGS hasn't gotten the best out of him. I think Arteta could get more out of him that Man Utd has.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54774068

I didn't think losing to Leicester City was as bad as it seems or this win means we have turned a corner. It's all part of the process. We are going to have bumps on the road to being a consistently good team again.

It doesn't sound crazy, it is crazy. Everything Pogba is goes against everything Arteta is and is putting in place.
Talent alone is not enough

Pogba is a lighter version of Özil. Your mad.

Totally understand how it sounds. I think otherwise though.

That's as good to watch as a 30 yard screamer or a brilliant bit of passing.

It is early days of course Gabriel/Party/El nene might turn out to be a flash in the pan ... gelatinous rather than Teleostomi yes yes yes.

But it just feels right somehow. I think we may well look back to the Leicester game as a Eureka moment for Areteta's thinking about our midfield, as someone has pointed out.