(Football news) While the Gunners eventually wore down the Bournemouth defense in a 3-0 victory last weekend, Erik ten Hag’s team is still in shock from their humiliating 4-0 thumping at Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Crystal Palace accomplished an incredible league double over the Red Devils on Monday night, blasting Ten Hag’s disorganized troops for four goals without answering at Selhurst Park, just when Man United’s miserable 2023–24 season seemed to be reaching its lowest point.
Michael Olise – allegedly a summer transfer target for Manchester United – added a few more pounds to his value with a brilliant brace in the capital, while Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell also got in on the act to condemn the Red Devils to an 18th loss of the season in all competitions and their 13th in the Premier League, a new unwanted record.
Manchester United’s Champions League hopes had long since evaporated before being blown to Selhurst smithereens, and earning just one win from their last seven Premier League contests leaves the Red Devils outside of European contention completely as far as the standings are concerned, sitting in eighth spot but only behind Chelsea on goal difference.
Of course, Ten Hag’s charges could earn a golden ticket to the Europa League via the FA Cup glory route, with two weeks to go until a repeat of last year’s final with Manchester City, and stardom in the Wembley sunshine will likely be Ten Hag’s last saving grace before he vacates the hotseat to a new name this summer.
Shipping four goals to the Eagles on Monday night also took Manchester United’s conceded column for all tournaments this season to an alarming 81 – their worst tally since the 1976-77 term – although Arsenal will not be underestimating the Old Trafford factor; Ten Hag’s side have scored in all of their Premier League home matches in 2024 so far.
On the flip side, the ball just would not go into the back of the Bournemouth net for Arsenal during their Saturday lunchtime showdown against the Cherries, who produced more blocks than a beleaguered boxer at the Emirates until a controversial penalty decision went the Gunners’ way.
Bukayo Saka did what he does best from the 12-yard mark to settle any Arsenal nerves, before Declan Rice both set up Leandro Trossard and fired in a low strike of his own from a tight angle to ultimately ensure a straightforward Gunners success, albeit one where their visitors also had a goal questionably ruled out.
As Andoni Iraola was left to lament the contentious officiating calls, Mikel Arteta and co rejoiced in a fourth straight Premier League win, one which leaves them one point clear of Manchester City at the summit for now, but the champions can reclaim their rightful spot at the top by defeating Fulham on Saturday.
The Citizens’ game in hand means that not even perfection between now and the end of the season may be enough for Arsenal, but the Gunners head north having amassed 22 points from a possible 24 in Premier League away matches since the turn of the year, and a Theatre of Dreams triumph would see the visitors set a new club record for single-season Premier League wins with 27.
Not since the 2006–07 season, when Emmanuel Adebayor was the Old Trafford hero, has Arsenal defeated their struggling opponents. Arteta’s team gave one of their late performances to defeat Man United 3–1 at the Emirates back in September, but their perfect start to the 2022–23 season was ended by the same scoreline in this exact fixture.
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