Stretty News Live Blog
This page is no longer live, but check back soon for more Live Blogs!
18:27 Thanks again for joining us for the live blog. Shame about the result. *Sigh*
18:25 Full-time: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal. The 14th league defeat of the season for the Reds. It is nowhere need good enough, but today’s defeat was to be expected given the players Erik ten Hag had available – against a side that is pushing Man City all the way for the title. Enjoy your evening.
18:24 Gary Neville names Saliba as the man of the match. He’s been solid at the back for Arsenal.
18:23 Kambwala wins the ball back with a stunning tackle. Hurts Havertz in the process.
18:22 Raya booked for time wasting.
18:21 Casemiro wins the ball back following a dangerous Arsenal counter-attack. United get forward but Garnacho sends his shot wide.
18:19 Dalot does well to beat his man on the right flank. Unfortunately, the Portuguese full-back’s cross was collected comfortably by Raya.
18:18 6 minutes added on.
18:17 Mix up at the back but United get the ball away.
18:16 Mainoo is back on his feet.
18:15 Subs: Eriksen on, Amrabat off – Forson on, Wan-Bissaka off – Wheatley on, Hojlund off.
18:14 The weather has changed at Old Trafford. Lashing rain.
18:14 Mainoo has gone down injured.
18:13 Amrabat sends a low cross into the box. Defended by Arsenal.
18:11 United have dealt well with Arsenal’s corners.
18:11 Two great saves from Onana in quick succession. He has been busy!
18:10 Arteta screams at Saka to go down after the Arsenal forward returns to the pitch. He will be replaced by Gabriel Jesus.
18:09 Arsenal corner.
18:08 Saka is down after crashing into the advertising boards. United’s corner doesn’t come of anything.
18:08 Garnacho gets forward and wins a corner.
18:07 Brilliant save by Onana to deny Martinelli. He gets a strong left hand to the powerful shot. Arsenal corner.
18:06 Garnacho unlucky in his attempt to intercept a pass out from Arsenal’s defence. Slips doing so and fails to retain possession fully.
18:05 Garnacho ripples the netting from the outside. Looked like Ben White got a touch on it. Maybe not…
18:04 Arteta is on his best behaviour. Dare I speak too soon? He’s usually jumping around the place like a leprechaun.
18:03 Sub: Kambwala on, Evans off. Another big moment for the young defender.
18:02 Garnacho does well to beat his man down the left. Doesn’t come of anything.
18:00 Antony gets a shot on target shortly after coming on. By far the weakest shot Raya has had to deal with this evening.
17:59 Yellow card for Saka. Lost his temper after losing a shoulder to Amrabat. Rat.
17:58 Sub for United: Amad off, Antony off. The Ivorian played well today.
17:57 Dalot defends well. Arsenal corner.
17:56 Raya saves Casemiro’s shot without any problems.
17:55 Trossard replaced by Martinelli.
17:54 At least we’re pushing for an equaliser…
17:53 Dalot whips the ball across the face of the goal, but nobody is there to get on the end of it.
17:52 Garnacho can’t do it all on his own…
17:50 Hopefully, the players respond to the atmosphere being created by United fans…
17:47 The Stretford End is bouncing to a George Best chant. Sounds great.
17:46 At the other end of the pitch, Garnacho runs towards goal but Saliba steps in brilliantly to stop the attack. Solid defending but that should be a little warning to Arsenal. They could get that second goal yet.
17:45 Saliba gets on the end of it. Sends his effort over the bar.
17:44 Arsenal corner. Not much danger came from these in the first half. Hopefully I don’t jinx this.
17:44 Arsenal have a chance after Rice has a shot blocked. They’re upping the tempo now in search of a two-goal cushion.
17:41 Amrabat kicks the ball out of play, after misplacing a five-yard pass.
17:39 Arsenal might be good defensively, but it would be nice to see us test their back four more. The lack of patterns developing in the final third is worrying.
17:37 Dalot does well to get up the line. Really progressive play from the Reds.
17:33 United kick-off the second half.
17:19 Half-time: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal. Not playing too badly but scoreline doesn’t read well. More after the break…
17:16 Hojlund is craving a physical battle with Saliba.
17:15 Garnacho is causing problems down United’s left side, which we should try to take advantage of in the second half.
17:13 United have improved in the last 10 minutes. The scoreline still reads poorly.
17:12 Garnacho forces Raya into a save. Saka clears.
17:11 Garnacho drives at Arsenal’s defence but nothing comes of it. Defended by Saliba.
17:10 Poor corner. McTominay was penalised for a high boot.
17:09 Scruffy play from Partey at the back. United win a corner.
17:08 Amad goes down inside the box. VAR checks it but no penalty. Partey sticks his right leg out – but the issue is that he is lying on the floor. The referee will argue Amad stood on Partey’s foot rather than penalise the Arsenal wrong-un for a foul. He should be penalised for a lot. Arsenal wrong-up.
17:05 Arsenal look comfortable with it staying like this.
17:02 It night help if our players made more runs. Too many are flat-footed every time we enter Arsenal’s danger zone.
17:00 Can’t tell whether our attempted build-up play is extremely patient or non-existent.
16:58 Ben White sends his shot out for a goal kick.
16:57 Giving back possession too cheaply.
16:56 Prior to Arsenal’s opener, United hunted the ball in packs. Now they are guilty of chasing it individually. It’s crazy how quick our heads drop after mistakes which are inevitable considering how we play.
16:53 United are all over the place. The structure we had before going behind is gone. Just like that. How?
16:51 Gary Neville is going in on Casemiro via Sky Sports commentary. Piss poor positioning. He needs to be do better. Wan-Bissaka is caught out too. Simple finish for Trossard.
16:50 Goal: Trossard snatches an Arsenal lead. 1-0
16:48 It has been a lively quarter of an hour at Old Trafford. Still waiting on a breakthrough.
16:47 Not much getting past Casemiro… yet.
16:45 Dalot has a shot from distance but sends it over. The Portuguese full-back is getting into good positions. Arteta will want to address that.
16:43 Dalot drives through Arsenal’s midfield with the ball. United win a corner.
16:42 United knocking it around pretty well at the moment.
16:40 Poor back pass from Rice to Raya. The Arsenal keeper gets there in time to clear the ball.
16:38 Arsenal corner. Gunners catch United on the break. Saka was left one-on-one with Evans.
16:37 Amad’s tricky causing more problems for Arsenal.
16:37 Garnacho’s shot takes a deflection on the way out. United win their first corner.
16:36 Amad showing a bit of skill to keep the ball. The fans are keen enough to applaud.
16:35 A big chance breaks for Hojlund but he loses his footing at a crucial moment. Skies his effort over the bar. McTominay did well to win back possession.
16:33 Saka gets the first shot on target. United can’t get out of defence and Arsenal aren’t letting us out.
16:31 Bit of humour early on as United fans laugh at Arsenal’s pre-match huddle. Heh.
16:30 Kick-off – Arsenal start the game in possession.
16:21 10 minutes until kick-off. After seeing the teams, it would be fair to say I’m not expecting anything from this one. Sadly it’s how I feel about our remaining games this season. And that would mean no European football next season…
16:17 Hi all! We’re running a live blog for today’s game against Arsenal at Old Trafford. It’s a game the visitors must win if they are to remain in this year’s title race. There will be some nerves among their travelling fans, hoping they don’t bottle it against a poor Manchester United team, which features Sofyan Amrabat in midfield and Casemiro at centre-back alongside Jonny Evans. It bodes well for us that Arsenal have a dismal record at Old Trafford – winning just one of their last 16 trips to the stadium in the Premier League. Stick with us throughout the game for some live commentary and reactions to the biggest moments.
