That was weird. Have you ever seen less enthusiasm from both players and fans in a game that actually had some significance?
Arsenal kept their slim hopes of a top four spot alive with a 2-0 win at home to Manchester United, as their three-at-the-back formation caused enough problems for Manchester United to roll over and concede defeat.
The breakthrough came from a deflected long-range effort from Granit Xhaka, and thankfully it did because otherwise we could have been looking at a drab 0-0 with absolutely nothing to talk about. When Danny Welbeck headed home two minutes later, the match was finished and it was pre-season stuff until the final whistle.
In a game where nobody really played a blinder, and nobody had a nightmare, the player ratings are all within the same range of numbers as the game was seriously uninspiring. Mourinho will say that the focus is on the Europa League, but they had better bloody win it now because that was largely pathetic.
Here is how we rated the players:
Arsenal:
Petr Cech: 6
What little he had to do, he did well. Came out big to deny Rooney in the first half.
Rob Holding: 6
Recovered well from a shocking error in the first-half that should have seen a goal conceded, but was otherwise strong and continued his impressive form at the back.
Laurent Koscielny: 8
Arsenal's most important player, he was in total control for the vast majority of that game as he kept pace with Anthony Martial and barely put a foot wrong for the whole game.
Nacho Monreal: 7
Another good performance from Monreal, like compatriot Cesar Azpilicueta at Chelsea, has adjusted to a back-three really well. He was grand, really.
Kieran Gibbs: 6
Solid. Not much else to discuss really. Was always going to be comfortable in a LWB position against Mata and Tuanzebe.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7
Energetic and active, his cross for Welbeck's goal was fantastic and he was a thorn in Darmian and Martial's side all day. Looks revitalised in his new position.
Aaron Ramsey: 6
Looked hungry for a goal all day and make some great runs, denied his goal in the first half by an outstanding save. Solid showing from the Welshman.
Granit Xhaka: 6
Took his goal with a big chunk of fortune, but was otherwise solid in midfield and kept things simple when in possession.
Mesut Ozil: 6
A decent performance from Ozil who threaded a few tidy passes, but really just kind of drifted around didn't have any real impact on the match. A common theme.
Alexis Sanchez: 6
Would have expected more considering he was up against a youngster, but his quality is clear to see. Not his best game, but not his worst.
Danny Welbeck: 8
Lead the line well, and while you would be forgiven for thinking pre-match that Jones and Smalling may have had his number having been so familiar with him, he gave them a very difficult evening.
Took his goal well, and celebrated it, which almost deserves an additional point as the non-celebration thing is bullshit.
Manchester United:
David De Gea: 7
Not much he could do about the goals, and pulled off a sensational save in the first half to deny Ramsey as well as some other good stops.
Axel Tuanzebe: 6
A promising performance in what would have been a very tough task against Sanchez. Tuanzebe's strength was on show as he left the Chilean on his backside in a few shoulder battles, but looked a bit lost on the ball, as was to be expected as he isn't a right back.
Chris Smalling: 5
Caught in no-mans-land for Welbeck's goal, and has gone from being the club's only reliable centre-back last season to the most inconsistent this season. His United future is justifiably in doubt.
Phil Jones: 5
More active than Smalling, but still not a strong showing and the difference in Man Utd's defending when Bailly and Rojo aren't playing is noticeable. Much more standoffish and nervous, Jones personifies that.
Matteo Darmian: 5
When he's in the side for defending and defending alone, he should be defending better, particularly on the second goal. Such a limited player.
Michael Carrick: 6
It's well known that United need to replace him, but Carrick continues to perform exactly as expected and knows his role inside out. Had to do a lot of directing and defensive help, so couldn't influence the game going forward.
Ander Herrera: 5
Despite a solid first-half where he made a number of important interventions, he was uncharacteristically poor for the Xhaka goal which dropped his overall rating.
Juan Mata: 6
A decent showing from the Spaniard, who at least tried to create while in the opposition half.
Wayne Rooney: 5
Rooney offers nothing to United anymore.
His decision to awkwardly prod the ball at Cech in the first half having been gifted a goal on a plate by Rob Holding, with Juan Mata screaming for the square ball and tap-in, summed up his day.
Time to move on.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 5
Far too quiet, when he's good he's unplayable, but when he's not you'd barely know he was there.
Anthony Martial: 5
Looks disinterested and frustrated, but still has the quality and pace to change the game in a split second. Needs a firm kick up the arse.
The substitutes made so little difference that we decided not to rate any of them at all, by the way.
