Arsenal vs Manchester United: Instant Reaction

I hope everyone is still feeling the adrenaline pumping through them.

Headline: Panic Postponed

When the ball was in the net from the Alejandro Garnacho goal I felt like I was staring into the abyss.

I could feel the panic and overreactions building in me and the fan base. I know rationally it would not have been over for Arsenal’s goals this season even if that goal had stood but there was no convincing my reptile brain of it. It felt like an absolute gut punch with the sliding doors opening to a cliff of negativeness for the club to fall into and be consumed.

Can’t get much tighter

Momentum is a funny thing because the offside decision (which is incredibly tight and Gabriel pulling back with every ounce is needed) felt like it lifted Arsenal and sunk United. I never worried that United might threaten after that and well they really didn’t.

From the time the call is overturned Manchester United have just one touch in the box and 8 touches in the final third, they generated 0 shots from it. Arsenal had 8 touches in the box, 45 in the final third, 3 shots and 2 goals.

Before that offisde, the tide of the game had turned. Rashford was coming into the match and was a threat everytime he touched the ball and I felt like it was just a matter of time.

Thankfully that momentum and the soft factors went Arsenal’s way. To a certain extent, I am glad the penalty overturn happened in the 59th minute and not the 88th minute. There was time for Arsenal to recover from that bad call and get back into the game and win it.

Now the panic gets to switch to Manchester United and Arsenal get 2 weeks to savor a victory over a hated rival instead of dwelling on a loss that would have been a textbook of so many from the past. There is still meat on the bone and nits to pick here but it will feel a lot better doing it with 3 points won.

Stock Rising: Declan Rice