By Ken Afor
In a crucial Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard capitalized on Manchester United’s shoddy defensive performance to score the only goal of the match.
This 1-0 victory saw the Gunners temporarily leapfrog Manchester City to the top of the table, ensuring that the enthralling title race will go down to the wire on the final day of the season.
Despite Arsenal securing their second win at Old Trafford in their last 17 visits, they hold a slender one-point lead over City with 86 points and just one game remaining. The defending champions, however, have the advantage of two fixtures left to play and could reclaim the top spot if they overcome Arsenal’s city rivals Tottenham Hotspur in their midweek encounter, as reported by Reuters.
As City chase an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, their superior goal difference means the destiny of the trophy remains firmly in their hands. The North London club’s hard-fought victory has set up a tantalizing climax to one of the most closely contested title races in recent years.
“I am going to be the biggest fan of Tottenham ever,” Arsenal’s Kai Havertz told Sky Sports. “Let’s hope for the best.
“We didn’t have our best game but we needed the three points and we have it now so we can be happy. We have to win every single game as City are always keeping the pressure on,” he added. “It is so nice to be in the race and every week you have to play at your best. When you do it, it feels even better.”
The breakthrough goal arrived in the 20th minute when Kai Havertz was afforded an alarming amount of space on the right flank. Advancing virtually unchallenged, he whipped a delivery into the box that Leandro Trossard coolly slotted home.
Trossard and his Arsenal teammates momentarily hesitated, glancing around expectantly for an offside flag that never came. The culprit was Casemiro, recently redeployed from midfield to patch up Manchester United’s injury-ravaged defense, who had lethargically drifted out of the box, ensuring Havertz remained onside after Andre Onana’s initial long ball upfield.
The hapless defending left Erik ten Hag visibly exasperated on the touchline, shaking his head in utter frustration at his side’s calamitous lapse in concentration.
“Obviously we only have one objective to win the league,” Trossard told Sky. “We have done our job today and it will be up to the last game and that is what we are aiming for.”
The closing stages became an intense, end-to-end affair as the match entered its tense final few minutes. Andre Onana was called into action, leaping to parry efforts from Arsenal substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice as the visitors sought to kill the game off.
For Manchester United, hopes of bouncing back from Monday’s dismal 4-0 capitulation at Crystal Palace were dashed. They remain eighth with just two games left, trailing sixth-placed Newcastle by three points in the increasingly difficult quest to secure European football next season. A pivotal clash awaits when the Magpies visit Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Erik ten Hag admitted it would be “very damaging” for the club to miss out on continental competition.
“That is the situation we are in, but still we can get there,” he told reporters. “We have to take the responsibility, we have fight for it, and everyone knows this.”
This defeat compounded a wretched season for United defensively, with the club having now shipped 82 goals across all competitions – their worst goals conceded tally in a single campaign since the 1970-71 season.
Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the final third and registering 14 shots to Arsenal’s 11, United lacked a cutting edge and struggled to carve out genuine scoring opportunities.
Their biggest threat came from young winger Alejandro Garnacho, particularly in the second half. He fired one effort wide before sending another agonizingly into the side netting, hanging his head dejectedly after both chances went begging.
At the final whistle, the visiting Arsenal fans, whose raucous singing had provided an incessant backing throughout, erupted into joyous celebrations. Not even the torrential downpour that ensued could dampen their jubilant spirits.
“We needed a result today in a really difficult place,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “Our history was not in favour of a result today, there was so much at stake and we’re happy with the result.”
Arsenal’s 1-0 win marked their 18th clean sheet in the Premier League this campaign, highlighting their defensive solidity. Moreover, it was their 27th league victory of the season – a tally surpassed only in 1970-71 (29 wins) and 1930-31 (28) in the club’s storied history.
In stark contrast, the Red Devils have now lost 19 games across all competitions in 2022/23 – their worst such record since the 1978/79 season when they also suffered 19 defeats.
The twists and turns of this pulsating title race will reach a climax on the final day, with Arsenal hosting Everton at the Emirates while Manchester City entertain West Ham United at the Etihad in what could prove a season-defining fixture.
