Ander Herrera had a superb game for Manchester United in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal, with his compatriot struggling for the Gunners.
Sunday’s match between Manchester United and Arsenal saw two in-form Spanish midfielders face off against each other, as Ander Herrera met Santi Cazorla when the third and fourth placed sides in the Premier League side took each other on.
And despite the 1-1 scoreline, one Spaniard shone significantly brighter than the other, with the United star finding the back of the net to give Louis van Gaal’s side the lead in the 30th minute.
Below is a comparison of the two players’ statistics from the match:
| Position | Team | Passing Accuracy | Goals | Total Scoring Att | Total Att Assist | Won Tackle | Ground Duel Won | Touches | Accurate Fwd Zone Pass | Accurate Passes | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ander Herrera | MF | Man Utd | 89.47% | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 97 | 44 | 68 | 90 |
| Santiago Cazorla | MF | Arsenal | 85% | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 14 | 34 | 73 |
The former Athletic Bilbao player had a superb game for United, and was at the driving heart of a lot of the side’s attacking moves.
Herrera had the most touches (96), the most accurate passes (68) and the most accurate passes in the attacking third (44) of any other player on the pitch, a phenomenal midfield performance against what has been a settled and dominant Arsenal side in recent weeks.
Of course, his 8th goal of the season, and 6th in the league was also a highlight, as he smartly smashed home Ashley Young’s cross at the far post.
But the 25-year-old also did strong defensive work, winning 4 tackles and 9 duels for possession during the game.
By comparison, Arsenal star Cazorla had one of his weakest games in recent months. The ex Malaga man struggled to create anything for the Gunners against Herrera and co, especially in a poor first half for the Londoners.
He had just one attempt on goal and was unable to provide any shots for any of his teammates. His touches and passing was also way below his usual standard, and it was no surprise to see him withdrawn for Jack Wilshere in the 73rd minute.
It was noticeable that Arsenal upped their performance after the England international took to the pitch, so can Ander Herrera now start targeting Cazorla’s place in the Spain squad?
With performances like this, the United midfielder just might do.
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