Manchester United vs Arsenal: 8-2, More Than Just A Result

Losing 8-2 to Manchester United is more than a result for Arsenal, it’s an entire revelation.

Over the past few years, Arsenal have hit new lows, agreed. But, this low! Losing 8-2 to United should be the last pinch of reality nature offers them. It was phenomenal to see how the team simply collapsed. It was like watching 11 ducks quacking aimlessly around a park. There are going to be teams half as good as Arsenal coming to Old Trafford and playing twice as good as they did. Surprisingly, United were not on top of their game, they’ve been better, much better. Ashley Young’s brace was probably unstoppable but Rooney’s hat-trick came from set-pieces alone.

Arsenal for some inexplicable reason thought that it would be perfectly fine to hold a deep line of defence against the best team in England, in their very own backyard. United pounced on every chance and if the finishing were a bit better today, you may have seen United reach double figures. Clearly, if Arsenal had some sort of plan, it wasn’t working and failure to launch any sort of back-up strategy did nothing but embarrass Wenger’s command over his incapable side. If Arsenal keep on exposing themselves the way they did against United, allowing teams to penetrate the defense with ease then I’m sure the bottom half of the table will reserve some space for them.

Carl Jenkinson shown red

United-Arsenal fixtures are always remembered for the tough competitiveness the two teams share, their histories boasting similar recognition. But after today, Arsenal have diminished themselves, and it’s going to be extremely difficult for them to climb back. Since Alex Ferguson became manager of United, Arsenal have been their trickiest opponents, collecting more points than any other club. For the first time since 1999, United managed to notch in 8 goals and you would least expect it to be accomplished against Arsenal because this is the first time Arsenal have conceded 8 goals since 1896, more than a bloody century! Today, as often happens in sport, history has been made and this time Arsenal are on the wrong side of it. This result puts a very uncomfortable dent in their pride.

One thing that has been made frighteningly obvious for Arsenal fans is that Arsene Wenger has completely lost it. The clock has stopped ticking for him. He definitely deserves utmost respect for having achieved so much for Arsenal but the past few seasons has represented his lack of knack as Arsenal manager. He has run out of ideas and his solitary plan of suffocating the team with young blood has reached a point which will require years of amending. He has been given one chance too many and now is the appropriate time for Arsene and Arsenal to part ways after 15 years of allegiance.

Wenger having a go at his players