When Arsenal last went to Manchester, they lost 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium. There were suggestions then that Mikel Arteta was the early frontrunner in the sack race. They ended that August weekend seven points behind an in-form Manchester United, who were about to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
Arsenal go to Old Trafford now five points ahead of United, effecting a 12-point swing during a period when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed. “It shows the competition and the league that we are involved in,” said Arteta, who has overseen a remarkable recovery while United have wilted. “Any team can cause a problem. It's not as simple as putting names and numbers in there, it's much more than that. But the quality they have is incredible. They have a squad that is one of the most talented in the league.”
But they trail Arsenal. Arteta is proof that the Gunners can salvage a season after a false start. A decade ago, their third game was an 8-2 hammering at Old Trafford, leaving them with a solitary point. It prompted Arsene Wenger to sign the wise old heads of Arteta and Per Mertesacker. They helped Arsenal finish third.
Arsenal’s latest revival has instead come courtesy of youth. Arteta has even preferred the 21-year-old Nuno Tavares to the fit-again Kieran Tierney for the last two games, despite the Portuguese gifting Liverpool’s Diogo Jota a goal at Anfield. “If somebody makes a mistake, that’s when you have to show trust because you want to build confidence and resilience,” rationalised Arteta, who is waiting to see if the talismanic Bukayo Saka is fit to play on Thursday night.
While United languish in limbo, waiting for Ralf Rangnick to be allowed to take charge, Arteta will face the caretaker Michael Carrick, an adversary in many a midfield for a decade. “In terms of the preparations, it was a little bit trickier than usual because you don't really know the influence that the new coach is going to have,” he said. “It is very difficult tactically so it’s focused more on ourselves.”
Some of that focus will be on his captain. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not scored in his last four appearances and was guilty of a glaring miss in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle. He had his poorest scoring season for a decade last year and, since signing a lucrative new contract, has only struck 13 times in 40 league games.
“The form of ‘Auba’ is always going to be related to the goals that he scores,” Arteta said. “We need that contribution because goals are critical for our success.” He has used the Gabonese both as a striker and a winger and conceded that Alexandre Lacazette is “more comfortable” as a No 9.
Arsenal v Newcastle player ratings
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ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 8: Brilliant save from in-form goalkeeper to tip Shelvey shot into crossbar in first half. AFP -
Takehiro Tomiyasu - 7: Missed target with left- and right-footed shots in opening half. Lovely pass to supply Martinelli for Gunners’ second. EPA -
Ben White - 7: Coped easily with what little attacking threat Joelinton and Wilson offered up front for Magpies. AFP -
Gabriel - 7: Involved in real scrap with Wilson right from opening minutes but generally came out on top against the Newcastle striker. Getty -
Nuno Tavares - 6: Kept his place at left-back despite Kieran Tierney’s presence on bench. Guilty of three wild shots way off target in first half when teammates were far better placed. Nice ball to Saka for first goal. Reuters -
Thomas Partey - 7: Smart passing from base of midfield although needed to move the ball a bit quicker at times. Had shot deflected over bar in second half. PA -
Albert Sambi Lokonga - 7: Lovely ball over defence after 15 minutes to pick out Saka but teammate couldn’t finish. Helped Gunners dominate possession. AFP -
Emile Smith Rowe - 7: Saw header saved by Dubravka late in first half that should have resulted in Aubameyang scoring rebound … only to result in one of misses of the season. Didn't hit the highs of some matches this season that resulted in England call-up but still a good show from midfielder. EPA -
Martin Odegaard - 7: First start in more than a month and saw his free-kick saved comfortably by Dubravka 20 minutes in. Sprayed some nice balls around as Gunners controlled game from start to finish. AFP -
Bukayo Saka - 9: Poor finish wide with game’s first real chance after being picked out by Lokonga. Great run and cross to tee-up chance for Smith Rowe before break. Opened scoring with excellent finish into corner from tight angle. Newcastle would have been relieved when he went off injured. AFP -
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 4: Barely touched the ball until just before break when he missed absolute sitter hitting outside of post from close range after Dubravka saved from Smith Rowe. Missed another chance in second half before being booked then substituted. Not his day. AFP -
SUBS: Gabriel Martinelli – (On for Saka 64’) 8: Brilliant first-time volley to make it 2-0 with just his second touch of game and denied a second by timely Lascelles challenge. Getty -
Alexandre Lacazette – (On for Aubameyang 77’) N/A. Fired one shot into side netting. AP -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka – 7: Slovakian, back in starting line-up, saved well from Odegaard free-kick and Smith Rowe header in first half. Commanded area when called up and had no chance with two excellent Arsenal goals. Reuters -
Emil Krafth - 5: Involved in nasty first-half collision with own goalkeeper when Dubravka came out to punch away cross but Swede was able to continue. Stupid booking for barging over Tavares and lost track of Saka for opening goal. EPA -
Jamaal Lascelles - 6: Newcastle captain had looked rock-solid until beaten by Saka’s pace late in first half. Booked in second half and will miss next game. Important challenge to prevent Martinelli grabbing a second late on. AP -
Fabian Schar - 7: Flicked header over bar from corner just before half-hour mark and made some well-timed tackles at the back in decent performance by Swiss defender. EPA -
Matt Ritchie - 5: Caught out by Lokonga ball to Saka after quarter-of-an-hour. Booked just before half-time for fouling England player and will also miss next game. Usual whole-hearted 90 minutes but suspect defensively and looked like what he is: a winger playing at left-back. PA -
Ryan Fraser - 5: Given starting berth by Eddie Howe and while he certainly put in a shift defensively was unable to make any impact on attacking front. Getty -
Joe Willock - 5: Midfielder, up against his former club, gave away needless foul on edge of area after 20 minutes – with Dubravka saving resulting free-kick from Odegaard. Hit one shot straight at Ramsdale after break but still long way off form he showed at end of last season that earned his permanent move to Tyneside. PA -
Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Thought he’d opened scoring only for Ramsdale to tip his curling effort onto bar, then struck another low shot straight at keeper minutes later. Had third attempt saved by Ramsdale after break and was only Newcastle player who looked like scoring. AFP -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: Employed out on the left flank at the Emirates little opportunity to run at Gunners defence. Had shot saved by Ramsdale three minutes from time but cut a frustrated figure for most of the game and new manager Eddie Howe will need more from the French attacker if Newcastle are to avoid the drop. Getty -
Joelinton - 4: A goal and decent performance last time out against Brentford but Brazilian contributed very little here and it was no surprise when taken off in second half. AFP -
Callum Wilson - 5: No sniff of goal until put through by Shelvey ball over top in second half and went down in box claiming a penalty – but would have been very harsh call. PA -
SUBS: Miguel Almiron – (On for Ritchie 68’) 6: At least tried to provide Newcastle with some much-needed energy going forward. PA -
Jacob Murphy – (On for Joelinton 68’) 6: Good ball across six-yard box that was crying out for a finish that never arrived. Reuters -
Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden applauds the fans after the final whistle during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday November 27, 2021.
“‘Auba’ has played in both positions throughout his career,” he argued. “I think the formation that we play allows him more freedom to attack certain spaces more often. His aim has to be to continue to do all the things that he's doing and then, in the right moments, put the ball in the net.”
Aubameyang did that at Old Trafford last season, securing Arsenal’s first league win there since 2006. Results in Manchester had been a sign of their decline and seemed to shown an inferiority complex. Now Arteta is looking for another triumph to provide proof of progress.
“That’s what we have to try to do,” he said. “It's not about winning once. I think when we won last year, Arsenal hadn't won there for 14 years so obviously, that cannot happen if we want to be at the top level. We have to have the end goal, the mindset, the confidence, the desire to win the game.”
