Arsene Wenger's final trip to Old Trafford with Arsenal is unlikely to live long in the memory.
With many suspecting that a relatively young and inexperienced Arsenal side would be prime for a heavy defeat by Jose Mourinho's Manchester United, in the end, it was a largely tame affair.
Finishing 2-1 in United's favour, an away point may still elude Arsenal in 2018, but today's performance signaled much to be positive about ahead of their Europa League trip to Madrid on Thursday night.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho admitted that his side were a little "lucky" to have escaped with all three points.
Of greater interest perhaps was his assessment of United's winning goal. Praising the impact of Marouane Fellaini, it has since emerged that the Portuguese is hopeful the Belgian will remain at the club despite his contract expiring in the summer.
Mourinho says Fellaini close to staying. "We are almost there... but in football almost there is not enough. I want to see the wet paper with the United crest."
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 29, 2018
In a rare insight into his tactical approach, Mourinho explained what he hoped would happen when the Belgian entered proceedings with the game deadlocked at 1-1:
I knew they were going to drop the block. Normally, at 1-1, a good result for them, they were going to drop the block. Without Lukaku, it was more comfortable for them to drop the block. The Greek boy and Chambers would dominate easily Marcus [Rashford] in the air and I felt we needed a second presence.
[Anthony] Martial would stretch the defenders, we would get some superiority on the side because Alexis [Sanchez] was coming too much inside, and Martial was more wide with Ashley Young, we could create problems.
Perhaps a fancy way of demonstrating how they sent on a big 'un to hit with a long 'un, Mourinho's plan nonetheless came to fruition.
Congratulating Fellaini for 'mathematically' qualifying United for next year's Champions League, it would appear now that Belgian may be extending his stay at Old Trafford.
