Premier League 2018-19: Arsenal loss just a bump in the road for Ole's Manchester United

After Manchester United's debacle against Arsenal, it's easy to believe that the wheels are coming off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's party bus. The caretaker manager had the chance to go clear of Arsenal, only if his team managed to hold on to their Champions League form.

A stunning win against Paris Saint-Germain mid-week surely had the dressing room morale soaring high, just like it did with the fans. However, a rare David de Gea blunder and a surefire penalty by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw Arsenal coast to a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday night.

With that, the Gunners emphatically pushed United to fifth place, going two points clear - two points that are bound to hit the Manchester team hard.

However, in his post-match notes, Ole asserted that this was a match his team did not deserve to lose. And in a way, he's right. Unlucky, his strikers hit the woodwork twice and the manager continues to believe that the penalty handed to Alexandre Lacazette versus Fred was a harsh decision against Manchester United.

What's unfortunate with the team coming unstuck is that it has handed Ole's men their first domestic defeat since the caretaker manager took over from Jose Mourinho in December. But that's also a good reason why Manchester United fans must not lose heart.

Here are three reasons why.

---

#3 Defeats hurt

Arsenal FC v Manchester United - Premier League

Most wouldn't have imagined the Red Devils to have much of a chance with the way things were at the end of 2018. Jose's side seemed like a group of weary individuals trying to scrape through games with some dignity left intact.

Under Ole, the team has been resurgent again, taking their chances and keeping the game alive till the very last minute. Call it the United DNA or Sir Alex Ferguson's deep-rooted teachings, but the team now seems to embody the idea that a good attack is the best defence, yet again.

That not only makes for exciting viewing, it's got Ole ten wins and two draws. So much so that another win would've seen him bag his seventh away game victory on a trot, equalling Ferguson's record.

And this is quite why the loss against Arsenal hurts so much. Manchester United has become a force to reckon with again after Ole has taken over, and Old Trafford is a fortress one more time.

#2 Injuries galore

Jose addresses the media

Back in December 2018, Jose Mourinho, struggling with an injury-laden squad gave a rather scathing assessment of the situation.

First of all, we have lots of problems related with physicality. We have lots of players that I could consider 'injury-prones', because some of our players are always injured. And it's not with me, it was before me.

If you look to the stats with Mr Van Gaal, and before him with David [Moyes], that period there were players that were permanently injured. When you are permanently injured, physicality is difficult to get. Then there are qualities that a player has, and doesn't have, you cannot improve and cannot make them have.

Ole, too, inherited a team that seemed to flail from time to time. In United's high-voltage clash against Liverpool, the gaffer had to make all three of his substitutions after bizarre injuries to his team at Old Trafford in February.

Ander Herrera did in his hamstring, as did Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard in quick succession within the same match. Nemanja Matic and Anthony Martial, two key players, were already out with knocks.

The injuries didn't dent Ole and his men's spirits, handing PSG a stunning 1-3 defeat on a cold Parisian night earlier this week.

Which brings us to our last and final point:

#1 United DNA

Mason Greenwood in action

If there's one identifying factor Manchester United has been synonymous with, it's unleashing home-grown boys into the world of football. For over 80 years, the Red Devils have named at least one academy player in every match-day squad they've announced.

As a player, Ole was exposed to the way of life at Old Trafford under Sir Alex, who ably took this tradition forward, and how. Under the genius of Ferguson, the Class of '92 burst onto the scene, giving us aces like David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt.

Ole knows how important academy players have been to the success of the club, and faced with an injury crisis, he chose to depend on its boys. From Mason Greenwood to Tahith Chong, there are a handful of academy lads figuring in the manager's bigger plans.

So, while the Arsenal defeat could be seen as a setback right now, the bigger picture is that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making the right moves, United style. The future is in safe hands.