Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal: Five things noticed as Sofyan Amrabat proves Wayne Rooney right

Five things were noticed as Manchester United fell to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Erik ten Hag opted to start Amad Diallo and Sofyan Amrabat as Manchester United welcomed Arsenal to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Although United started as the better team, they failed to capitalise on some lax errors from Aresnal in the opening minutes, with Arsenal taking advantage through Casemiro‘s poor positioning, with Kai Havertz cutting back to hand Leandro Trossard the opening goal.

Read More: Player Ratings – Manchester United vs Arsenal (Premier League)

There was a moment where Amad may have won a penalty, but play was waved on, and that was about it for the action in the first 45 minutes at Old Trafford.

In the second half, United’s players made some half-hearted attempts to attack, but in all honesty, it never felt like the players cared enough. Another blow for Ten Hag saw Amad limp off with injury. The drab display was met with a storm towards full-time, with the mood at Old Trafford reflected by the heavy rain.

Below are five things we noticed from the tie.

#1 – Ten Hag’s midfield idea

“We have to make interceptions there,” Ten Hag told MUTV before the fixture when asked why Scott McTominay and Amrabat were starting in midfield. “We’ve made our middle of the pitch stronger; our out-of-possession game is very aggressive.”

Although he has had a poor season, Amrabat was far from United’s worst player on the pitch, carrying out Ten Hag’s instructions well. Odegaard, Arsenal’s main creative outlet, was nullified during the first 45 minutes.

#2 – Casemiro’s time is up

As has been the case so many times in the last few months, Casemiro contributed to United’s conceding their first goal.

He should have stepped up to make sure he was in line with the rest of the back four after Onana hoofed the ball upfield – this kind of decision-making just shows he is not at the elite level he once was. His time at United is up.

#3 – United are SO easy to score against

Prior to the tie, it was seen that Arsenal were practising creating overlaps with their fullbacks and wingers with the intent of playing low cutbacks into the United area – a way of goals that has been conceded far too often this campaign.

Trossard’s opening goal came from exactly that moment. It has become so easy to score goals against United, who are unbelievably prone to conceding low cutbacks, and it seems as if this is not being dealt with in training.

#4 – Amrabat’s damning determination

Amrabat, who is leaving at the end of the season and has almost no reason to care about the result, was the club’s hardest-working player against Arsenal. That says much.

It’s a damning idea that the man with the least to care about long term is the one who cares the most. The United players were so half-hearted during what was another grab game at Old Trafford.

“We finished 7th under Moyes, but it never felt as bad as it is now,” Rooney told Sky Sports before the game. He isn’t wrong.

#5 – All eyes on the FA Cup final

Honestly, it feels like it would be hard to find a Manchester United fan who can truly say they care about the final two Premier League games of the season.

The FA Cup final, which will kick off in just under two weeks’ time, is United’s only realistic route into the Europa League. Newcastle will visit Old Trafford, and Ten Hag’s men will face Brighton on the south coast.

Ten Hag should use these final two games to prepare for Manchester City, and should make sure he doesn’t rush any players returning to fitness.