Arsenal were ‘better’ than a Manchester United side who struggled to match their effort and intensity during Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the club’s official website.
For the first time in 14 years, the Gunners could celebrate a victory at the home of their old rivals.
A second-half Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty was the difference at the Theatre of Dreams as Mikel Arteta’s side finally woke from their big six nightmare with a statement win which highlights just how far they have come under Pep Guardiola’s protégé.
Arsenal have frequently been accused of lacking commitment and a team-ethic in the biggest of games.
But that was not an accusation which could be levelled at an increasingly well-drilled and streetwise side on Sunday, with new signings Gabriel and Thomas Partey giving the London giants an iron-clad spine – the likes of which they’ve lacked since the mid-noughties.
“In the first half, we never turned up. The intensity, the tempo wasn’t there, the shape – they were better than us,” Solskjaer admits after his 100th game in charge of United ended in defeat.
“There are many reasons (why we lost). Of course, but it might be a reason when you play well and you think you take your foot off the pedal. But that’s not how it works because this was a big game and they’re a very good team.
“You have to be absolutely spot-on with everything. When you’re late in the tackle, they get away from you and you give a foul away. We weren’t at the races.”
The win was also Arsenal’s first away at a ‘big six’ rival in 29 attempts, five years on from that Santi Cazorla inspired 2-0 triumph at Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City.
Is this a turning point for a side who performed well but took nothing from clashes with Liverpool and City this season?
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