All hail Pep Guardiola. Having already moulded Man City into one of the most exciting teams in the history of the Premier League, he is now partly responsible for making freewheeling entertainers out of his rivals.
Had City not set such an absurd pace this season, perhaps Jose Mourinho would have been happy to sit deep and soak up a point at the Emirates today, but already eight points behind, United can ill-afford to do anything but ferociously attack every point on offer. That they did at Arsenal today, and were 2-0 up inside ten minutes: their high press discommoding dawdling Arsenal defenders. From there, however, United oddly loosed control.
The game became a kind of wild, raucous frenzy: Arsenal attacked only to see United counter, which only served to allow Arsenal another counter. In spite of the presence of Nemanja Matic, United ceded all control in midfield as the game that less resembled two highly-technical fighters picking each other off than it did two drunks slugging it out in a Supermacs.
The calm head amid the frenzy was David De Gea, who once again summoned one of those improbable, superhuman performances in goal for United. Arsenal still hadn't scored by half-time, in spite of having 17 attempts on goal and hogging more than three-quarters of the ball.
The spell was finally broken after the break as we hit a kind of Peak Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey cushioning the ball back to Lacazette from three yards out, who smashed home. Arsenal continued to pummel United's goal, but United's counter-attacking threat through the irrepressible Lingard remained, and it was he who tapped home from a yard out to make it 3-1. That goal was almost entirely down to the languid, brutish brilliance of Paul Pogba, who shoved off Laurent Koscielny to expertly pick out Lingard.
Pogba undoubtedly put his stamp on this game, but then he relocated the back of Hector Bellerin's knee, for which he earned a straight red card and a suspension for the Manchester Derby. His bewildering sarcastic applause may see that suspension stretch into Christmas.
That card, however, caused United to flood their penalty area, with Arsenal unable to break down their truculent opponents and avoid a 3-1 defeat. It's a first home loss since March for Arsenal, as United face City next week with their coattails within grasp.
Here is some of the reaction among those watching on.
This #ARSMUN match has been so non-stop exciting that Glenn Hoddle has hardly been called upon at all. It's the perfect match!
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) December 2, 2017
That was a game to make you fall in love with football again.
— John Nicholson (@JohnnyTheNic) December 2, 2017
Look forward to United replicating these tactics next weekend and losing 17-3.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) December 2, 2017
De Gea could of saved Jack from Titanic. I swear he's a joke.
— DON STRAPZY *SE DØNS* (@DonStrapzy_) December 2, 2017
What a crazy game. Worth watching Pogba without the ball, btw. A pedestrian.
— Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein) December 2, 2017
Super counter-attacks plus DDG win three points for MUFC. But Mourinho can’t be happy with amount of AFC chances. Central midfield ropey, not picking up runners - especially in first half.
— Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein) December 2, 2017
Brilliant game at the Emirates. Worrying bit for United is that de Gea was their best performer. If they defend like that against City they will have to score plenty
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) December 2, 2017
Pogba has been exceptional in the game of the season.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 2, 2017
Pogba a massive loss for the derby. As this match has demonstrated, it’s all well and good playing well on the counter-attack, but it helps if you have at least one player who can look after the ball.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) December 2, 2017
This game confirms what we already knew: Arsenal are good enough to compete with United (or any other team), they're just not good enough to overcome their regular moments of self-destruction. #arsmun
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) December 2, 2017
This is the game of the season 🙈... I can't take it,ha!!! #coyg
— Alex Scott MBE (@AlexScott) December 2, 2017
I can't believe it !! What a goalkeeper De Gea is ! Monster in front of goal ! ⚽️ @premierleague #ARSMUN #DeGea
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) December 2, 2017
