It was even stevens at Old Trafford this Saturday lunchtime as Manchester United and Arsenal played out a keenly fought contest.
In a game built up around the famous old tussles between the two sides over the years and the evident animosity between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, things were surprisingly good-natured for the whole game.
One particular flash point in the first half saw Andre Marriner judge Nacho Monreal not to have fouled Antonio Valencia in the penalty area and the referee appears to have got that decision right, despite Mourinho’s protests on the touchline.
The heat went up a notch in the second half as United looked to take the game to a fairly subdued Arsenal side and they eventually found the break through as Juan Mata swept home with little over 20 minutes remaining.
The Red Devils went looking for a second, too, but the Gunners stood firm and managed to nick an equaliser in the final couple of minutes through second half substitute Olivier Giroud at the far post.
It was an interesting contest and here are five things we learned from it.
Arsenal still have things to learn
If Arsenal are serious about winning the title they need to find a way of winning the big games away from home. This was not a performance that smacked of the Gunners knowing how to go and get a result at the big grounds and, in truth, they were lucky to get a point. Giroud’s equaliser could be crucial in the title race in months to come but only if the Gunners can start winning these games.
Mata United’s catalyst
Despite all the huge names Manchester United signed in the summer, Juan Mata is still the main man for the Red Devils when the big games come around. Some thought the Spaniard would leave when Jose Mourinho was announced as the club’s new manager but he has once again shown that he is simply indispensable for the Old Trafford side right now. Things may change over the course of the season but he’s currently United’s most important attacking outlet.
Mourinho beginning to make mark
The Portuguese boss should be pretty pleased with what he saw this afternoon from his side as the Red Devils put in a performance typical of a Mourinho team. Whilst they were not as free flowing as some sides have been in the league this season, they carried out their manager’s tactics to near perfection and contained a much-fancied Arsenal side for most of the game. This could actually be a good building block for the Old Trafford outfit.
Mesut Ozil still goes missing
The question over Mesut Ozil in the big games still remains. Whilst the German performed well against Chelsea earlier this season, he was tactically taken out of the game. The best players in the world work themselves into the match, but he simply couldn’t influence it. The former Real Madrid man can be unplayable at his best but he can also frustrate to equal measure. The World Cup winner needs to start doing it on the big occasion.
Gunners do have fighting spirit
To their credit, Arsenal hung in there for the whole game and saw out some serious Manchester United pressure before nabbing a point right at the end. In past seasons, we would have seen the Gunners roll over once Juan Mata had scored and get hit for two or three more. But against United, they rolled with the punches and got themselves back into the game as the final whistle approached. It wasn’t a good Arsenal performance but they still got a point that could be pivotal in this season’s title race.