Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal: 5 Talking points

Manchester United stunned the mighty Arsenal by winning a keenly fought battle 3-2 thanks to a brace by academy graduate Marcus Rashford. Arsenal pulled back twice in the game via Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil but sadly couldn’t find a way pass the resolute United defence.The defeat leaves Arsenal’s title charge in tatters as they trail the league leaders by five points. And this win gives a glimmer of hope to Manchester United of qualifying for the Champions League as they trim down Manchester City’s advantage to three points, who have a game in hand.Here are the five talking points from this thrilling game:

#5 The name is Rashford!

For quite a few youngsters from the famed United’s academy, the Theatre of Dreams has quite lived up to its billing. Be it the famed Class of 92 stars or the Busby Babes. And today, another youngster from the suburbs of Manchester has lived his dream. Marcus Rashford has changed the mood in around Old Trafford with his spellbinding performances in the span of mere three days.

The Fletcher Moss youngster has scored four goals in two games at Old Trafford and that too in some style. His fearlessness and swagger is reminiscent of the club’s ethos and also the reason for his exhilarating start to the first team career.

The 18-year-old boldly took on the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel and Hector Bellerin with considerable success. His incisive runs explained the reason why the performances of United strikers have been diabolical for past couple of seasons. There was will from the youngster to create something, something which the fans can shout about.

It might be too early to pass a judgement on Rashford, but if he keeps his head straight and works hard enough, we might as well get accustomed to listening this name ringing in the British Isles for a long time.

#4 Are Arsenal bottling up?

It is that part of the season where all the teams begin to get their move on except one. No points for guessing it, Arsenal are slacking yet again. The Gunners are notoriously famous for throwing away their season when they head into the business end.

Their current run of two wins in the last six league games is hardly inspiring, let alone, title winning. As a matter of fact, the Gunners have won just three games since the turn of year. Adding to this, their barren run of 14 goals in 11 games, isn’t encouraging at all.

If attack isn’t wrecking it up then the defence too, is at its porous best. If not for Petr Cech’s heroics, Arsene Wenger and his boys would’ve had a very rough 2016 to contend with. It seems that the seasonal hoodoo is coming back to haunt the Wenger’s boys yet again.

Currently they are bookmakers’ favourite to win the league. Bet only if you have a spare quid or two that too at your own risk!

#3 The kids step up at the Theatre of Dreams

Rashford Lingard — Rashford was not the only youngster who did well

There are currently very few clubs in world football that can pride for nurturing youngsters from within the club. And Manchester United is surely one of those clubs. The bench except Sergio Romero and Tim Fosu-Mensah consisted of all the academy players.

And how they announced themselves to the world! The young turks led by Marcus Rashford simply blew away the famed warriors of Wenger’s Arsenal. After initial nerves, the kids of United began growing into the game. The first goal was purely down to the defensive mix up in the Arsenal defence. But the second goal was pure joy to behold. The link up play between Jesse Lingard and Guillermo Varela was mind-blowing to say the least, and Rashford’s finish was exquisite to say the least.

The swagger and the nonchalance displayed by these youngsters has changed the mood at Old Trafford. The fans that were hooting every single pass and were bored by the sullen football are now rising up to back these youngsters. The rise in performance levels of Memphis has been one of the major factors for this revival.

Those flicks and the tricks was to some extent an open mockery of Arsenal. Many of them may not make their way into the Old Trafford folklore like the famed Busby Babes or the Class of ’92 but they surely give hope to all the United faithful.

#2 Arsenal\'s lack of spine

Arsenal under Arsene Wenger have a woeful record at Old Trafford. Today they had the opportunity to change that, if only they had the ruthless streak to kill this under strength Manchester United side fielded by Louis van Gaal.

The Gunners started the match promisingly but they never recovered after they were stunned by the United youngsters. The first goal shook them so much that it took them well over 25 minutes to recover, by that time the damage had already been done. The fearless youth of Manchester United showed what has prevented Arsenal from being the champions of England.

The seasoned pros of Arsenal were rattled as they were handed the daunting task to overturn a two-goal deficit against United at Old Trafford. The rash challenges began to fly all around the park and also the will to break down a makeshift and fragile backline receded with every passing minute.

Arsenal lack the killer instincts and the winning mentality to cut it at the top of Premier League. Barring Danny Welbeck, none of the Arsenal’s stars looked ready to take the game to United, and we all know where Welbeck has learned the tricks of his trade.

#1 Is this the turning point for Louis Van Gaal and United?

Louis van Gaal and his team are literally under the cosh for their dire performances dating up to the late December. Things got worse after the humiliating defeat to FC Midtjylland ten days ago.

The squad has been ravaged due to the injuries to 14 first team players. Everyhting seemed lost for the great Manchester United. But the sudden surge in performance buoyed by the influx of academy stars has turned the tide for everyone at Old Trafford.

The exhibition of free-flowing and enterprising brand of football not only has taken everyone by surprise but also lifted the spirits of the dejected fans. The club which proved you can be successful with the kids is once again trying to reclaim its lost glory by turning to its academy and youth teams.

In a season where the soul of this very club has been shattered to pieces, it is refreshing to witness the revival process is heading down to the same roads which created the very identity of this club.

Edited by Staff Editor