[Beagle]

Really don't think Ole did much wrong. We had our chances, they had a soft penalty; these results happen.

Exactly. United failed to take the chances. It happens to the best of teams. Just a one off result and Ole will have the team bounce back.

 

[Rob67]

Not sure if it was fatigue or tactics but I don't think we've been running and pressing as much as we did in Ole's first few games.
Our fitness levels probably need to be increased in the next pre-season.

 

[Frank Grimes]

No point in complaining about the penalty, we were well short today all over the pitch.

No we weren't, we missed 2 great chances and that's why we lost.

 

[passing-wind]

Deserved to lose, the last couple games we have played poor but grinded out results, I still think ole needs to bring a consistent attacking identity to our team, watch the first three touches of us kicking off and we cheaply gave the ball away (less than 1 min played) that for me set up the tug of war style we have adopted in recent weeks.

Even with injuries we need investment in most areas of the pitch the aim next season is to mount a challenge, I don't think we will get top 4, out of our rivals we have the hardest fixture list and Chelsea have games in hand will be interesting to see how where we finish end of the season will effect ole's tenure

 

[Neilwij]

Weirdly enough the Sky Sports and BBC post match reports talk about the penalty as if it was a clear foul and not even debatable in the slightest

Even though i cant stand him, carragher did say it wasn't a penalty and also jamie redknapp said this too during the match.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

I don’t get it.

Keep with the best reactions in world football doesn’t save any penalties.

He can cover 1/3rd to 1/2 of the goal if he doesn’t dive, yet he always resorts to some shitty flop to one side.

He could have a 30% success rate or more if he didn’t move until the kicker hit it.

 

[cfkane]

Disappointing result, yes, but I doubt you would find a supporter who, after the Liverpool loss, if told United is going to fire Jose, begin to play the United way of football, and have a record of 14 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses, one of which will be to PSG in the CL, which they will overturn in Paris to go through to the next round, and the other will be to Arsenal on 10 March, after a 9 game PL away run, be sitting 5th and 3 points off 3rd, and will still be in the FA Cup, wouldn't have said, "I'll take that."

 

[Ronaldo's ego]

We weren’t great but Arsenal didn’t blow us away. We could’ve easily won that with more sharpness and composure. I don’t get so many saying we were terrible

 

[mazhar13]

This match reminded me of the 2005 FA Cup final. We had numerous chances to win but didn't take any of them. Throughout the first half, the only issue I noticed was Matic being too slow, resulting in big gaps in the midfield. This where I blame him for not closing down Xhaka quickly enough for the first goal. Otherwise, we were doing a good job of creating chances.

In the 2nd half, the players obviously got more frustrated with the situation and started forcing the issue. Arsenal's defence remained composed and kept baiting our players to try something difficult. You can see that Rashford, Pogba, and Fred were trying too hard to do something different at the expense of their teammates. This is also why our players didn't commit too many numbers going forward; the rest of the players didn't know what to expect from Rashford, Pogba, and Fred. That one moment where Rashford kept carrying the ball, hoping to bait out Maitland-Niles, before releasinga poor pass out to Shaw summed it all up. Ole should remind them and the rest to stick to the plan when it does indeed continue to work. When the players lose belief in their gameplan, that makes scoring a goal more difficult (of course, if we scored off of one of those individual moments, then that's a different story).

This is a good experience for the younger players. They need to trust each other more in difficult situations, and they need to have more faith in their plan when it continues to give them scoring opportunities. This is where the top clubs are at their best: their faith in Plan A when they can still create chances is what helps them break down defences.

 

[rotherham_red]

Just got back from the game - shit happens. Tactically I thought we were fine, but I think our lads had their heads in the clouds (and understandably so) from the PSG game. We created plenty of openings in an open game where both sides just ignored the midfield. Arsenal took their chances. We didn't. I thought for us Fred had a decent game, interlaced with his usual inconsistencies on the ball, but also some high quality pieces of play on and off the ball. Pogba was poor, Matic was overrun. Defensively it wasn't anything to write home about - thought Shaw was decent again, however. And in attack, Rashford showing that he badly needs a rest. Lukaku had a bad day, but after his exertions on Wednesday, I can accept it.

For us, it was a game of what ifs, because we repeatedly let ourselves down in the final pass or shot.

The main thing is to learn the lessons from it and move on.

 

[CM]

It was a game of fine margins. We started poorly but still created enough to be able to come away with a point. It's annoying that a freak error and a soft penalty have decided the game, but I suppose we've had our fair share of smash and grabs at the Emirates in recent years.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Ozil dissing Lingard on Twitter?

let them have their day. we really did miss jesse today, wouldve been a different story if he played

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Terrible day at the office. Shit happens.

Nobody looked good really, and that was a poor Arsenal team that could have been there for the taking. But we were awful really. Hangover from midweek joy hopefully, as we've got yet another crucial game coming up next - they all are, now.

Unfortunately, I think that might be our top 4 chances dead and buried.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Arsenal 1:0 Man Utd - Xhaka (12')

Xhaka shooting...

And both Fred and Matic decided to let him rip it in.

Fred actually backed away in closed up camera angle.

Geez, both of 'em could've slide-block it or get closer and closer to block it.

I don't understand Fred's positioning, he's marking no one. Matic is reasonable, covering the spaces behind Shaw just in case.

Not much Rashford can do being at his back, and De Gea made a poor judgment.

 

[Random Task]

Getting a result at Arsenal is a big ask at the best of times, but it's made doubly harder when you fail to convert your chances. Rashford and Lukaku will be furious with themselves after that showing in front of goal. We got what we deserved in the end.

Nevermind, just one of those days.

 

[Canagel]

This match reminded me of the 2005 FA Cup final. We had numerous chances to win but didn't take any of them. Throughout the first half, the only issue I noticed was Matic being too slow, resulting in big gaps in the midfield. This where I blame him for not closing down Xhaka quickly enough for the first goal. Otherwise, we were doing a good job of creating chances.

In the 2nd half, the players obviously got more frustrated with the situation and started forcing the issue. Arsenal's defence remained composed and kept baiting our players to try something difficult. You can see that Rashford, Pogba, and Fred were trying too hard to do something different at the expense of their teammates. This is also why our players didn't commit too many numbers going forward; the rest of the players didn't know what to expect from Rashford, Pogba, and Fred. That one moment where Rashford kept carrying the ball, hoping to bait out Maitland-Niles, before releasinga poor pass out to Shaw summed it all up. Ole should remind them and the rest to stick to the plan when it does indeed continue to work. When the players lose belief in their gameplan, that makes scoring a goal more difficult (of course, if we scored off of one of those individual moments, then that's a different story).

This is a good experience for the younger players. They need to trust each other more in difficult situations, and they need to have more faith in their plan when it continues to give them scoring opportunities. This is where the top clubs are at their best: their faith in Plan A when they can still create chances is what helps them break down defences.

A very good summary. I really don't think we suffered from complacenly or even lack of freshness. The ball just wouldn't go in and small margins in a big game can make the difference.

 

[JohnnyKills]

Olympic diving gold medal team

Yeah they really suffocated the game with all those falls at the end didn't they.

 

[Patrick08]

Dropping mctominay was a mistake. I would have gone with matic and mctominay in the middle and pogba in front of them.

 

[Judas]

Terrible day at the office. Shit happens.

Nobody looked good really, and that was a poor Arsenal team that could have been there for the taking. But we were awful really. Hangover from midweek joy hopefully, as we've got yet another crucial game coming up next - they all are, now.

Unfortunately, I think that might be our top 4 chances dead and buried.

Hardly, but it is a blow. I'm certainly a bit more worried, as I honestly thought we'd beat what is a very average team.

It's going to be ridiculously tight, but all the teams will drop plenty of points before the seasons finished.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Arsenal 2:0 Man Utd - Aubameyang (69' pen)

Olympic Dive by Lacazette.

10/10 fooled the shit ref.

VAR at EPL is starting next season? Hope it'll get rid of this bs.

 

[koop]

One of those games.

Failed to convert chances we should of. Ref was below average.

I stopped watching after the pen as I had to go to work, but I'm guessing Pogba remained invisible?
I had a feeling we would play better without him against PSG aswell.

 

[Tomuś]

We done a PSG on them.

Even worse because we actually created great chances and were denied by the frame of a goal twice.

 

[syrian_scholes]

Terrible day at the office. Shit happens.

Nobody looked good really, and that was a poor Arsenal team that could have been there for the taking. But we were awful really. Hangover from midweek joy hopefully, as we've got yet another crucial game coming up next - they all are, now.

Unfortunately, I think that might be our top 4 chances dead and buried.

did you think we would've won all our games till the end of the season?

 

[Whiteside '85]

Gutted to lose a 6 pointer in such a fashion and to a pen that never was but this is the beautiful game. Without that (soft as) pen we are always getting back into the game. Congrats to J moss for killing the contest.

But top 4 is still in our hands. All to play for, even after the horrendous first half of our season. Back in December who could have foresaw we'd have been in the QF champions League and anywhere near a UCL spot?
Resilience needed going into the home straight.

Come on United,
Really love believing in this team again.

 

[syrian_scholes]

Even though i cant stand him, carragher did say it wasn't a penalty and also jamie redknapp said this too during the match.

Fowler said the same as well, what the feck is happening?

 

[RD76]

We were unlucky and arsenal are proper small time.

 

[haram]

They might overcome that problem fairly easily knowing their fate lays in their hands.

Dont think it is that simple.

 

[syrian_scholes]

 

[redmanc]

One of those days and a very soft penalty didnt help but we were also ridiculously complacent, no leadership out there at all which really cost us in my opinion, our club captain is squeaky quiet and he himself can't pass 3 feet infront of himself.

 

[Tomuś]

Olympic Dive by Lacazette.

10/10 fooled the shit ref.

VAR at EPL is starting next season? Hope it'll get rid of this bs.

I always thought the ref would've done something big in their favour. Looked like he got all the boos into his head as they protested against any trivial decisions he gave us in the first half, most of which were correct. Happens all the time towards the home side, as I pointed out in the 'weird feelings of football'. Still, we shouldn't sink to PSG level and put all the blame on ref. We didn't score, we didn't win. Could have gone for the next 90 minutes without scoring I felt.

 

[Jericholyte2]

Terrible day at the office. Shit happens.

Nobody looked good really, and that was a poor Arsenal team that could have been there for the taking. But we were awful really. Hangover from midweek joy hopefully, as we've got yet another crucial game coming up next - they all are, now.

Unfortunately, I think that might be our top 4 chances dead and buried.

The saving grace I think for us is, barring City and Chelsea, we have very winnable games in the run in. Next four are Watford (H), Wolves (A), West Ham (H), Everton (A), then City and Chelsea, both at home, followed by Huddersfield (A) and Cardiff (H).

 

[Che Guevara]

Watched Arsenal's opener, tbh it's harsh to call it a howler by De Gea. The ball took a cruel swerve and could have been any keeper. I'm not even sure Xhaka crafted it deliberately or had a stroke of luck.

 

[Bubz27]

Genuinely surprised Ozil calling that a superb performance.

They time wasted the whole second half, got a dodgy penalty and then saw the game out. Was an underdog performance, and that isn't an insult. If Bournemouth beat us with a performance like that, it'd be superb.

 

[ottosec]

We played well, but it was one of those days. Can't win them all.

 

[Stacks]

Deserved to lose, the last couple games we have played poor but grinded out results, I still think ole needs to bring a consistent attacking identity to our team, watch the first three touches of us kicking off and we cheaply gave the ball away (less than 1 min played) that for me set up the tug of war style we have adopted in recent weeks.

Even with injuries we need investment in most areas of the pitch the aim next season is to mount a challenge, I don't think we will get top 4, out of our rivals we have the hardest fixture list and Chelsea have games in hand will be interesting to see how where we finish end of the season will effect ole's tenure

No we don't. Both Spurs and Chelsea are up against it. Spurs have Liverpool, City and Chelsea to play

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

I think we played well overall, but could not take our chances. After the soft penalty we could not really push them though which was a bit annoying to see. The subs didn't really help.
I am glad to see Pogba back in good form. I didn't like him since the Chelsea game, but today he showed his class. We need him for the end of the season. Maybe he just needed some rest.
I also liked Fred today even if he made a stupid thing to give away the penalty (too soft in my view though).

Matic and Martial didn't look fully up for it but glad to have them back.

 

[Che Guevara]

We weren’t great but Arsenal didn’t blow us away. We could’ve easily won that with more sharpness and composure. I don’t get so many saying we were terrible

"easily won"?? Not sure about that.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think we played well overall, but could not take our chances. After the soft penalty we could not really push them though which was a bit annoying to see. The subs didn't really help.
I am glad to see Pogba back in good form. I didn't like him since the Chelsea game, but today he showed his class. We need him for the end of the season. Maybe he just needed some rest.
I also liked Fred today even if he made a stupid thing to give away the penalty (too soft in my view though).

Matic and Martial didn't look fully up for it but glad to have them back.

Ole said after the match that he was not sure who he would have for Wolves, but that he should have a full squad after the international break.

 

[Vooon]

Unlucky I think. If Lukaku had scored that first sitter I think we'd won, or at least a draw. The margins went Arse's way today, if Lukaku had done like the last three matches he'd scored at least twice.

Shaw our motm for me.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

"easily won"?? Not sure about that.

We had the better chances overall. The game was even and could go either way. De Gea and the ref let us down and Leno had a brilliant game.

I think a draw would probably have been a fair result.