Page 3 - Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United: Hits and Flops

Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United: Hits and Flops | Premier League 2019-20

Modified Jan 01, 2020 23:23 GMT

Arsenal picked up an impressive 2-0 win over Manchester United

Hit: Sokratis

Sokratis was a defensive rock in tonight's win for Arsenal

Arsenal have struggled for consistency and strength in their defence all season, despite the signing of David Luiz from Chelsea in the summer. Tonight however, they looked pretty solid at the back overall – restricting a dangerous Manchester United side to no real clear-cut chances, and part of the reason for that was the strong showing from Sokratis.

The Greek centre-back scored the Gunners’ second goal, smashing in from close range, but he was also the most outstanding performer in Mikel Arteta’s backline from start to finish.

Sokratis registered the most successful tackles of any Arsenal player who appeared in this game, and he also topped the statistical table when it came to clearances and aerial duels. With 62 passes completed at an 85% success rate, he also managed to retain possession for his side and more importantly, made none of the individual errors that have scarred Arsenal’s season thus far.

Is this the start of a really strong run for Sokratis, who has appeared in 17 of the Gunners’ Premier League matches thus far? If it is, Arteta will be extremely happy, particularly given Arsenal’s defensive issues under Unai Emery.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram