Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal: 3 key battles that decided the game

#3 Konstantinos Mavropanos vs Jesse Lingard

Mavropanos and Lingard

It is one thing to be handed a first league start when you are just 20 years old, and it is an entirely different thing to be handed your debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford. For someone playing his first game, Mavropanos rose to the occasion rather spectacularly.

Had Lukaku played all 90 minutes, it might have made things harder but an untimely injury to the Belgian made thing considerably easier. Without the shadow of the towering centre-forward, Jesse Lingard failed to deliver the magic that he usually does.

The Greek defender looked a little slow off the block but makes up for it with his aerial command and positioning. He also looks ready to launch into tackles - as most young players are prone to - without any obvious recklessness to them.

Mavropanos vs Lingard - stats

Lingard was not his usual self at all - losing possession, wayward passes and a general lack of his trademark runs behind the defenders. It was a rare bad performance from him, and it is unfortunate that it came against an Arsenal side that could have been exploited if he had had a better game.