What Ruben Amorim’s received proper and mistaken as Man Utd droop to first defeat of their new period
Ruben Amorim predicted a storm was on the horizon – and there were choppy seas in north London for the Red Devils.
Manchester United suffered their first defeat under the new boss as Arsenal did what they do best in the Premier League, scores goals from corners. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba were the difference makers as the Gunners made United pay from set-pieces.
The Amorim bubble is far from burst, but it was a swift reality check for more challenges on the horizon for Amorim’s crew. And Daily Star Sport has a look at what Amorim got right and wrong on Wednesday evening.
Frustrating Mikel Arteta
United’s shape was perfect at the Emirates – they set up to frustrate the Gunners. And frustrate they did.
Arsenal were slow and sloppy on the ball, only making more mistakes as the crowd started to get tetchy. It’s what United were missing under Erik ten Hag at times – a clear sense of identity.
You can already see Ruben Amorim’s blueprint all over the team, and Wednesday it was clear how he had set up to frustrate the Gunners and make them pay on the break.
Conceding from a corner
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Every man and his dog know what Arsenal are all about these days: corners.
The Gunners are so good at punishing teams from set-pieces – largely thanks to their set-piece coach Nicolas Jover – and United were the latest team to fold infront of their aerial threat. Arsenal, also, almost netted an identical corner minutes after their opener.
“These Arsenal corners. Does anyone man to man mark them,” one fan fumed. While a second said: “Arsenal corners are like a glitch on FIFA. Cheat code. Actually feels like they’re cheating!”
Welcome to Manchester, Lenny Yoro
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We’re in December and Ruben Amorim is handing out debuts to summer signins.
After suffering an injury in the summer, Yoro has to wait until December to make his proper Red Devils bow. And it speaks volumes of Amorim’s trust in the wonderkid to throw him into the fray in such an important fixture.
Amorim, speaking ahead of the game, said he was he was “excited” to see him in action for the club: “He is a special talent, we have to be careful in the first moment. We didn’t have too many training [sessions] together. He has been training with a small group of players. He is really fast, a modern defender.
Lack of attacking chances
For all of United’s defensive stability, there was a clear lack of attacking output.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee who looked so good over the weekend were reduced to chasing shadows. “Rasmus Hojlund and Garnacho should only play Europa and Carabao games,” one fan fumed.
While another added: “So what we’ve established is Bodo/Glimt is Hojlund’s level. Wasteman.”
