After the Brentford debacle, not many would have envisaged this Manchester United team to go on a run of four wins but here we are after Sunday’s 3-1 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Two successive wins at home for the first time since the start of 2022 with the team managing to score despite not being on top of proceedings for large parts of the second half will definitely please Erik ten Hag who had called for ruthlessness from the forwards.
Rashy back in form
Arsenal was supposed to be the biggest test for this United team and they definitely proved to be much more adept at keeping the ball with United having to keep their shape for large parts of the game.
But they always seemed to carry that threat on the counter and in the end that proved to be the difference between the two sides as United climbed to fifth in the table, just three points behind Arsenal who remain on top.
Marcus Rashford seems to have rediscovered him form with two goals in the second-half while he provided the assist for Antony’s debut strike in the opening 45 minutes.
Nice to finally meet you, Old Trafford!! @ManUtd 🔴🏴⚽️
🎥 @ESPNBrasil pic.twitter.com/0xaFFCNktv
— Antony Santos (@antony00) September 4, 2022
This was the first time the Mancunian scored twice against the North London side since his debut back in 2015-16.
While the attack will deservedly take most of the credit, one player who has been absolutely colossus in the middle of the park is Scott McTominay.
His partnership with Fred was widely lambasted after the first two weeks, and after Casemiro’s arrival for big bucks, it was expected that the Scottish international would lose his place to the Brazilian.
McTominay the new midfield general
There were even mischievous reports which stated that the player was on the verge of being loaned out with multiple Premier League clubs interested.
But McTominay has not only managed to keep the Brazil international on the bench, he is yet to be substituted in the four games that United have won.
“He has to get used to my way of playing football… The other thing, Scott McTominay is playing really well,” Ten Hag had said when asked why he was not starting Casemiro against Mikel Arteta’s side.
He was once again magnificent against the Gunners as he won tackles in midfield, broke up play at regular intervals while always playing the right ball.
His crucial intervention at the end of the game where he thwarted Gabriel Martinelli from reducing the deficit was greeted with high-fives by all members of the back-four.
With the next game set to be in the Europa League against Real Sociedad, the current first XI might get a well-deserved rest and McTominay has certainly cemented his place there.
