Arsenal Dominate Man Utd with Set-Piece Brilliance
— topball (@topballwsmart) December 4, 2024
— topball (@topballwsmart) December 4, 2024
Arsenal beat Man Utd 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, delivering a commanding performance that highlighted their set-piece prowess. Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba secured the Gunners’ fourth consecutive victory over their historic rivals, closing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to seven points.
⏱️FULL-TIME:
🔴 Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd 👹
🦁 Aston Villa 3-1 Brentford 🐝#ARSMUN #AVLBRE #MUFC #AFC pic.twitter.com/NNFFVtBWlv— Match Spoots (@matchspoots) December 4, 2024
Arsenal’s Set-Piece Masterclass
The match marked Arsenal’s 500th competitive game at the Emirates, and the home side celebrated the milestone in style. After a cagey first half, Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 54th minute. Declan Rice delivered a pinpoint corner to the near post, where Jurrien Timber rose above Manchester United’s defense to glance the ball into the net. It was Timber’s first goal for the club, and it set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Manchester United, under new manager Ruben Amorim, struggled to respond. Despite a solid defensive setup in the first half, they were undone by Arsenal’s relentless pressure from set pieces. United’s best chance came from a Matthijs de Ligt header, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya produced a stunning save to deny the visitors an equalizer.
Saliba Seals the Win
Arsenal doubled their lead in the 73rd minute, once again capitalizing on a corner. Bukayo Saka’s delivery found Thomas Partey at the back post, who headed the ball back into the danger zone. The ball deflected off William Saliba and into the net, leaving United goalkeeper Andre Onana helpless. The goal, Arsenal’s 22nd from corners since the start of last season, underscored their dominance in this area.
The Gunners continued to threaten, with Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino coming close to adding a third. However, two goals were enough to secure the victory and extend Arsenal’s unbeaten run to four games since the international break.
United’s Struggles Continue
For Manchester United, the defeat marked Ruben Amorim’s first loss as head coach. The Red Devils managed only one shot on target throughout the game and struggled to cope with Arsenal’s intensity. Diogo Dalot’s first-half effort, which narrowly missed the post, was their closest attempt at goal.
United’s lack of attacking threat and vulnerability at set pieces highlighted the challenges Amorim faces in turning the team’s fortunes around. The loss leaves them in 11th place in the Premier League table, with just 19 points from 14 games.
Arsenal Close the Gap on Liverpool
With this victory, Arsenal moved to third place in the Premier League standings, level on points with Chelsea but behind on goal difference. The Gunners are now seven points behind leaders Liverpool, who were held to a draw by Newcastle earlier in the evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for upcoming fixtures against Fulham and AS Monaco. With their set-piece dominance and defensive solidity, Arsenal are emerging as serious contenders in the title race.
Arsenal beat Manchester United with a performance that showcased their tactical discipline and attacking efficiency. As the Gunners continue to climb the table, their ability to capitalize on set pieces could prove decisive in the race for Premier League glory.
