I did not expect this, especially after our error-filled performance at the Emirates just five days ago. I watched the game with a United supporter, and instead of celebrating openly in that glorious opening salvo, I merely gaped in joyous wonder as the Gunners dismantled a team whose manager had just said could beat anybody. Wenger outmanaged van Gaal, sending Arsenal out to press high but defend deep, trusting in his speedier midfield to control the space between the lines if the front four wasn't winning and keeping the ball. United's back line has always been suspect in possession, and never more so than today. That first half hour looked so easy for us. Had Ramsey finished--it looked harder to miss than score--it would have been four goals. Martial missed one gold-plated opportunity, and United had four or so half-chances, but our back line did a good enough job against what looked a tired, off-color United attacking unit. Something is wrong with Wayne Rooney. Maybe he's simply past his expiration date, but it's not working out for him. Mata was not effective either.
Second place on goal difference over United, two points back of City. Had Mike Dean not thrown the Chelsea game, we could be on top now. We need Koscielny back, and it would be great to have Wilshere and Welbeck, but I suppose they're out for a while.
Cech was really good today, saving at least one goal, probably two, with very sharp play. Monreal and Bellerin were awesome; Mertesacker and Gabriel good enough. Coquelin did an excellent job in front of them. Cazorla is getting to be quite efficient in a deeper role. Ozil had a superb game--a goal and an assist. Ramsey was good, I thought, but he is lacking confidence. Walcott played really well, having an assist for Ozil's and the last pass on Alexis's second. And of course, Alexis was fabulous. The United supporter I was watching the game with asked me if Alexis always helped out on defense, and I told him "Every game, all game." He's a guy no one wants to play against.
Okay, it'll still take a miracle to get us into the knockout round of the ECL, but I feel a lot better about the season than I did yesterday.
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