Briefly but painfully, Granit Xhaka ended Manchester United’s realistic hopes of ending the damned season in fourth place in the Premier League, a Champions League qualifying spot. From about 20 meters away, the Swiss international scored Arsenal’s third goal in the 70th minute with a hammer shot into the goal corner. It was the “Hammer Blow” for United, the massive disappointment from which coach Ralf Rangnick’s team could not recover in the final stages of the game in London.
Xhaka’s first goal of the season, however, caused a cry of relief from Arsenal supporters at the stadium after Arsenal’s three straight defeats earlier in the month put them in a position to play in the Champions League for the first time since 2016. Both Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta and all the substitutes couldn’t stay in their seats after the goal, most of those involved immediately ran to the corner flag to cheer Xhaka. That was “a great achievement” by his team, in a game that included “everything”, Arteta rejoiced. Nevertheless, the race for the premier class will remain a “roller coaster ride”.
With the hard-fought 3-1 (2-1) against Manchester United – which missed top-class chances especially in the second half and even put a penalty on the post by Bruno Fernandes (57th minute) – Arsenal won the first of what are believed to be two showdowns for a return to the premier class. At least record champions United now seem to be decisively left behind.
With four games to go, the Gunners are six points clear of Manchester and still have a game to play. The three-way battle for a return to the Champions League has therefore turned into a duel between London’s arch-rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, who can still draw level with the Gunners on Saturday evening with a win at FC Brentford.
A lot of explanation for little yield: Ralf Rangnick with Jadon Sancho.
(Photo: David Klein/Reuters)
United, on the other hand, suffered four league away bankruptcies in a row for the first time in 51 years. Rangnick summed it up that fourth place was “unlikely” for Manchester even before the game, but after this “disappointing defeat despite improved performance” the goal is now “finally” gone.
The golden years of both clubs, when Arsenal and United regularly fought for the championship, are long gone. However, this did not detract from the explosiveness of the game, because without the Champions League funds, both clubs fear that they will increasingly be left behind nationally and internationally. The former title rivals are still suffering from the aftermath of the terms of their eternity coaches Arsène Wenger (22 years Arsenal) and Alex Ferguson (27 years United), whose departures each triggered a painful process of restructuring.
As a result of Wenger’s withdrawal in the summer of 2018, Arsenal tried to buy their way back into the top flight, with the club posting a loss of around €400m on the transfer market since then. It was only when the Gunners slipped further in this way (and money was probably getting tight) that the club began to invest more in in-house talent at the beginning of the pandemic and to strengthen itself with up-and-coming professionals from other clubs.
After a bomb threat, Rangnick takes his captain Harry Maguire out of the starting XI
This insight – that it is no longer enough in top football nowadays to stock up on supposed elite players at high prices – is now apparently reaching Manchester United as well. Nine years after Ferguson’s retirement, during which the club invested around €1bn more in new players than it earned through departures, proud United must admit that they have hit a temporary low. Never before in the Premier League have the club had fewer points after 34 matchdays than they do now (54).
The disturbing displeasure of the fans culminated this week in a bomb threat for captain Harry Maguire, whom Rangnick removed from the starting XI to protect him against Arsenal. The club’s deadlock, which Rangnick likened to “open-heart surgery”, turned into a desperate appearance in London, in which United tried with courage, but ultimately too hectically and without fortune, to turn an early deficit.
After scoring, Cristiano Ronaldo pointed his index finger at the sky.
(Photo: David Klein/Reuters)
Nuno Tavares’ early goal – in the third minute – reflected the state of confusion as two United defenders lobbed over the ball in a row. Appropriately, Alex Telles also conceded a clumsy penalty which Bukayo Saka converted to make it 2-0 (33′). Despite the adverse course of the game, United – contrary to the 0: 4 at Liverpool FC on Tuesday – did not get down. Right-back Diogo Dalot came closest to equalizing twice from open play, failing once over the crossbar (24′) and once against the post (63′).
But, as is so often the case during the season, only Cristiano Ronaldo scored for United to make it 1-2 (34 ‘). After the goal, Ronaldo pointed his index finger to the sky – in memory of his twin son who died earlier this week in childbirth. It was Ronaldo’s 100th Premier League goal for the club, something only Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney had previously accomplished.