Despite losing on his final trip to Manchester, It was a totally different reception for Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger earlier today at Old Trafford as the Gunners' boss, where he was presented with a Silverware by long-term nemesis, Sir Alex Ferguson who was later joined by current United boss, Jose Mourinho before kickoff.
With the second leg of their Europa League Semifinal game with Atletico Madrid in mind, Arsene Wenger made Seven changes to his team, leaving in London, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, Alexandre Lacazette, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. Danny Welbeck and Nacho Monreal both started on the bench and new signing, Mavropanos who is the 221st player to play for Arsenal Wenger was given his debut.
In a match that lacked so much intensity and competitiveness like we always knew it for, United took the lead on the 16th minute.
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Alexis Sanchez saw his opportunity from a point blank header to score against his former side thwarted by a last ditch Hector Bellerin block deflected off the bar but it was sent back into the net by the lurking Paul Pogba who had gone 11 games without a goal.
Arsenal lacked any creativity in the middle of the park and Nemanja Matic was a great match with stand-in Arsenal captain, Granit Xhaka who was one of the few regular faces to feature.
In the 51st minute, Arsenal were levelled from a well driven low shot from the edge of the penalty area by a former United player, Henrikh Mhkitaryan who was playing his first game after about three weeks out with injury. The Armenian held back his celebration in respect for his former club and teammates.
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United saw a goal disallowed after substitute, Marcus Rashford tapped in from a Maroune Fellaini header from an offside position. The Devils got the winner in the first minute of stoppage time in similar fashion. Substitute, Fellaini connecting to a well taken Ashley Young cross from the left wing.
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The loss was Arsenal's 6th consecutive loss away from home this season, the highest streak they have gone losing on the road since 1966. The Gunners are also yet to win a point away from home this year, the only team in the top four tier leagues in Europe to not have won a point on the road since the turn of the year.
Although Arsenal lost, they'd pick a positive as Youngster Ainsley Maitland Niles was named Man of the Match, having completed 36 of his 39 passes and winning possession on 5 occasions with a chance created, covering over 10km, the second highest by an Arsenal player on the field.
farewell arsène
It's sad that Arséne have to leave Arsenal. I like Wenger. He's a legend of the club. Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner.