The absolute necessity is midfielder, not centre-back
The game-plan looked to be going smooth after the half-hour-mark and the goal, with Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Ashley Young making a nuisance of themselves to lukewarm Arsenal. Creation of chances wasn’t the problem of the first half, but only lack of decisiveness and quality to score another kept the shy visitors in the game. But major woe for the Reds remains absence of a ‘Roy Keane type of midfielder’.
When Arsenal were on top in the game in the second half, United midfield did almost nothing to make their lives harder. Neat, but not combative and powerful enough for the big games. Daley Blind, Mata and occasionally Herrera were all passengers at the time that United needed a strong tackle, important interception or a tempo-breaking foul.
It’s clear Louis van Gaal needs to buy a natural midfield leader in the summer, not by words, but by example on the pitch. Paul Pogba, Morgan Schneiderlin, Arturo Vidal and the latest, Geoffrey Kondogbia, are the first names that come to mind. A balanced player who can fulfil attacking and defensive duties is an absolute must, not just for United, but for Arsenal and Liverpool as well. The impact Nemanja Matic had in Chelsea’s title winning season is widely lauded for a reason and it will be surprise if van Gaal doesn’t spill the money for first-team midfield option.
Young deserves all the credit he gets and an important role next season
Ashley Young was United’s man of the match for the second consecutive game and he would be the strongest favourite for United’s Player of the Year award if it wasn’t for David de Gea. The 29-year-old winger was the main attacking outlet for countless time this season, giving nightmares to Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin; which resulted in left-footed cross Herrera thumped in.
Regardless of Angel Di Maria’s future and purchase of Memphis Depay, Young fully deserves a new contract, which he earned with complete turnaround in his career looking just twelve months back. The ex-Aston Villa player seems to thrive in important matches; having delivered in crucial wins at Newcastle and Crystal Palace, and in the unforgettable beating of Manchester City.
Van Gaal’s role in resurrection of his career must not be diminished. From pre-season until the final minutes of the league fixtures, Young did everything the Dutchman asked of him, and made himself a reliable player who is probably at his best in United shirt. A new England call-up is almost a certainty and Young can be proud of his personal performances.
Smalling has a big future at United
The big centre-half is finally becoming the defensive force Alex Ferguson expected him to be after his transfer from Fulham in 2010. His Manchester days were not far from counted when he was sent off at the Etihad in a rather ridiculous manner, but now he has established himself as a first-choice centre-back, and he hasn’t got to fear for his future and a place in the team next season. Maybe the biggest reward he received, apart from his contract, is today’s captaincy and every United fan should be glad for him. He justified that honour with his defensive performance; he was assured, composed and he always had control in battles against Olivier Giroud.
At the moment Smalling is a joy to watch, displaying the “art of defending” at the finest level. A couple of aimless long passes suggest his distribution of the ball could and should improve. but having in mind the manager’s eye for perfection, there’s no worries. Nevertheless, it’s hard to pick point more than two defenders in the league who are having a better end of season than Smalling, and Roy Hodgson will have to consider him as his starter in international matches that are to come.
United are on the way to restore Old Trafford fear factor
Arsenal were shell-shocked in the first half of the game, in which they didn’t manage to put a shot of any kind. Their attacking quartet along with deeper positioned Santi Cazorla looked like a mid-table firing squad, and not the one that started last five consecutive games together. With United’s lively half-an-hour there were signs of the famous fear factor that United seemed to have lost.
Unfortunately, only a one goal margin was not enough to maintain Arsenal’s lackadaisicalness throughout the game, considering their objective quality – and the Reds need to earn the mental advantage with tireless pressure, decisiveness and lots of chances and goals.
There’s still a feeling this United team is capable of committing an error, but for it to be costless, the home side ‘have to be sailing’ with fifteen to twenty minutes to go. Late conceding certainly won’t help in United pursuit to bring back the Ferguson-time-like feeling of scoring an injury-time winner, but if players in red can keep catching the opponent unprepared and securing the victory in the early game stage, only a minority will care.
