An instant classic.
Manchester United’s stirring victory over Arsenal on Saturday evening was a back-and-forth game which had supporters of both sides on the edge of their seats throughout.
The visitors got off to a dream start when captain Antonio Valencia opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Jesse Lingard doubled United’s advantage in the 11th minute.
From that point, the Red Devils sat back and invited pressure against a side to whom you don’t want to afford any space whatsoever.
Jose Mourinho would undoubtedly have been the happier manager at the break but whatever his opposite number, Arsene Wenger, said to his charges in the dressing room clearly worked as Alexandre Lacazette found the net from close range just four minutes after half-time.
It was akin to two boxers agreeing to meet in the centre of the ring to slug it out. When one team’s players would take a break to catch their breath, the opposition would swarm.
Lingard netted his second of his game with what might well have been the easiest finish of his career and the action-packed nature of the match was a welcome reminder that not all meetings of the so-called big sides have to be cagey encounters nowadays.
Pundits had suggested that Mourinho would have set his side up to frustrate the free-flowing football of the Gunners at the Emirates but he did anything but.
It was an incredibly enthralling 90 minutes of football and fans couldn’t help but be reminded of the famous battles of years gone by, when Arsenal vs. United was the fixture that everybody looked forward to.
Pogba’s sending off with 15 minutes remaining provided the kind of bite that was once an annual guarantee from Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.
The whole game was like the footballing equivalent to Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots and delivered plenty of entertainment value to the neutrals watching from home.
https://twitter.com/H_Gill71/status/937032306136580096
Just like the old days #MUFC #GGMU
— ε∂ωιη (@MachariaEd) December 2, 2017
Just need a punch up and this is a throwback to the great united arsenal games of the past #mufc #ARSMUN
— Perky (@leeperkins87) December 2, 2017
This game takes us back to when it the title challenge was between Utd and Arsenal, good old days! #ARSMUN
— Parsh (@Parshhhh) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/bethphill_/status/937022914490183680
What a game at the Emirates. Like the battles in the good old days! #ARSMUN
— Overcoming The Odds (@overcomingodds1) December 2, 2017
This is like top of premier league games from the old days. End to end and exciting. #ARSMUN
— Richard Larque (@larko_no1) December 2, 2017
Scintillating 1st 45 just like the good old days. @D_DeGea with 8 saves (9 if you count the best of the bunch, a save on Lukaku) @youngy18 doing it at both ends. Need to gain a bit of control in midfield to see this one out. That or score a few more 😎 #MUFC #ARSMUN #EPL #PLONNBC
— Matt The MUFC Fan (@MattTheMUFCFan) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/MonicaBLee/status/937026446186434561
This game is reminding me of the old days. Brilliant! #ARSMUN #FPL
— FPL JPaul🇨🇽 (@FPLJpaul) December 2, 2017
This #ARSMUN game is like a flash back to the good old days!
— Chris (@ChrisMckernan) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/_niitro/status/937029394840850434
This game is doing all types of tings to my heart. Reminds me of the old days.
— Mally' (@Mally_DB) December 2, 2017
this reminds me of the old days when we were behind and we'd stick on Kanu and Wiltord
— Hugpocalypse Now (@MightyGooner81) December 2, 2017
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