Everyone’s talking about Manchester United’s 3-2 win at Arsenal.
What followed was a barn-storming 3-2 victory with three excellent goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu and Matheus Cunha, not to mention a number of stellar performances and viral talking points.
Here are six things our writers loved…
POSITIVITY PAID OFF
Mark Froggatt: One of the things I admire most about Bryan Mbeumo is his positive attitude and commitment to being a team player. Those traits were on display throughout Sunday’s euphoric win, but particularly in the details of his all-important equaliser.
It began when Senne Lammens attempted a right-footed long ball that missed Bryan’s run and prompted cheers of mockery from the home crowd. Undeterred, our no.19 caught his goalkeeper’s attention and made a real point of applauding the intention, as if to say: ‘keep doing that, it will come again, trust me’.
With Arsenal now in possession, Mbeumo refocused and swarmed on William Saliba. He forced the Frenchman to hastily move the ball to Martin Zubamendi, who in turn wilted under pressure to play a panicked pass into no-man’s-land.
In his third act of positivity, our hard-working top scorer pounced on the loose ball, controlled the bounce with his left foot, dragged it onto his 'weaker' right and then finished with aplomb. The strike was overshadowed by two second-half worldies, but it had a devastating effect and underlined his influence on the team.
CASE’S ADVICE FOR DORGU
Matthew Holt: Take nothing away from Patrick’s stunning strike at the Emirates Stadium, it deserves its own applause, but there are two other facets of his wonder goal which stand out to me.
Firstly, Bruno Fernandes and Dorgu played this almost therapeutic one-touch football to dance around both Declan Rice and Zubimendi, before our no.13 rifled his effort in off the bar. The ball never really sat right for either of them in the build-up and, given the end result, it perhaps doesn't get the credit it rightfully deserves.
Secondly, Casemiro screaming at Dorgu to 'enjoy the moment', as captured by the Sky cameras, is why we have all come to love our passionate Brazilian. Having won almost everything there is to win in the modern game, it's clear Case wanted the ex-Lecce man to take it all in and relish what he had just done.
As the famous quote from Ferris Bueller says: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Adam Marshall: It's very encouraging to see we have options coming off the bench and making an explosive impact.
Cunha's response to being left out of the XI for the past two games has been exemplary. It is everything you could wish for from a professional and he has been absolutely outstanding, and instrumental, in the two massive victories.
Remarkably, his goal was our first from a substitute in the Premier League all season, and this is clearly a metric we need to improve on.
Carrick's decision to replace the injured Dorgu with Benjamin Sesko was also a bold call that deserved its own rewards, after the striker played a part in the build-up to Cunha's winner. Such competition for places can only be a good thing.
Sam Carney: Harry Maguire has been so impressive since returning from injury, standing tall against Erling Haaland last weekend and largely keeping Arsenal at bay from open play on Sunday.
There’s a clip doing the rounds of our centre-back wrestling with – and getting the better of – the physically imposing Gabriel during the latter stages and, for me, that sums up just what the England international brings to our team when selected.
Maguire is aggressive and bellicose without ever crossing the line – he’s been sent off just once in over 250 United appearances – and his partnership with Lisandro Martinez will only improve, with the pair between them offering everything you could possibly want from a central defensive duo.
Harry was named the Man of the Match by Sky Sports, and the photos showing him displaying a big smile while showing off the trophy tell you everything you need to know – this is a man who simply loves the big occasion as a United player.
Joe Ganley: There was so much to enjoy yesterday: most obviously, those instantly classic screamers from Dorgu and Cunha, and the spirit and boldness United showed after Arsenal scrambled a late equaliser. But I'd like to offer a few words in praise of Lammens – the 23-year-old goalkeeper who plays like he's a decade older (in a good way).
The Belgian didn't have it easy. As everyone knows, Arsenal put goalkeepers under huge pressure at corners and set-pieces, making the six-yard box feel like Euston station at 6pm on a Friday night, so the referees and VAR have no real way of policing any shoves, pushes and pulls. It worked for them in the 84th minute, when Mikel Merino scrambled home, but Lammens's composure and authority were near flawless throughout the rest of the game.
It's so nice to have a keeper that catches the ball; who clearly gives confidence to his back four. He was jokingly compared to Peter Schmeichel after keeping a clean sheet in his first game, against Sunderland, but the former Red he most reminds me of is Edwin van der Sar. In that you rarely notice him (again, in a good way). He just goes about his work calmly, cleanly and efficiently, with the odd brilliant save (Zubimendi, Saka) to remind you he's pure quality.
Like Dorgu and Heaven, he represents another tick in the box for United's recruitment department, and so clearly boasts the rock-solid temperament you need to play for a huge club. Before I go, I'll also mention Dalot and Shaw too. Like Lammens, they don't grab headlines, but yesterday, they did not put a foot wrong.
A MOMENT FOR MARTINEZ
Matthew Holt: Lisandro has returned with vengeance following his lengthy spell on the sidelines and has slotted in brilliantly. Our two wins against City and Arsenal have pitted him against two of the Premier League's most potent attacks and, on both occasions, he's been on the winning side. Licha looks to be back to his very best alongside Maguire, marshalling the Reds and breaking lines with those killer passes to spark our attacks and get United on the move.
As seen on our television screens, Martinez's father was in the away end at Arsenal on Sunday, and looked close to tears as his son dashed his way, whilst adorning a huge banner with his name embroiled upon it. A familiar face at Carrington, it's another stark reminder of what the beautiful game is all about, especially given how much Lisandro has had to endure over the past 12 months. Argentina!