Goals from Bryan Mbeumo (£8.2 million), Patrick Dorgu (£4.3 million) and Matheus Cunha (£8.0m) saw Michael Carrick secure his second successive victory on Sunday.
Here are our scout notes from Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United.
MBEUMO THREAT
After their Manchester derby win, Carrick played the exact same team against Arsenal on Sunday.
Mbeumo then led the attack again and caused many problems William Saliba (£6.0 million) and Gabriel Magalhaes (£6.9 million), taking advantage of an error by Martin Zubimendi (£5.2 million) to equalize in the first half.
Mbeumo has played with more freedom in Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 and has now scored two in two since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
However, in both games, Mbeumo was substituted around the 70 minute mark, with Cunha coming on as his replacement, a situation we will need to monitor in the future.
The coming weeks will tell us more, and Carrick may adjust his lineup depending on the level of opposition he faces.
Above: Man Utd are fourth on our Season ticker during the next six Gameweeks
But confidence has clearly increased and the early indicators are positive: United scored five goals and seven big chances against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Carrick discussed Cunha’s influence as a substitute, scoring and assisting in those matches:
“Matheus came on and had a big impact again, just like last week. I just wanted him to get going, I really wanted him to score. Another fantastic finish. It probably epitomizes how we have been as a group this week. Matheus hasn’t started both games but he has really had a big impact. Two huge moments and for that he absolutely deserves that winning goal, how he has worked all week and I am absolutely delighted for him.” – Michael Carrick on Matheus Cunha
DORGU INJURY UPDATE
Elsewhere, Dorgu followed up his strike against Man City last week with a brilliant volley here.
Once again deployed ‘out of position’ as a left winger, leaving Cunha on the bench, he received a pass from Bruno Fernandes (£9.4 million) to burn down the house.
Above: Patrick Dorgu’s heatmap against Arsenal in Gameweek 23
Dorgu later appeared to suffer an injury, apparently clutching his hamstring, but Carrick expressed hope that it was just a cramp and not something more serious.
“Pat has been a big player for us in so many ways over the last few games. Obviously in attack he’s scored goals, but I think it’s also about the threat, his athleticism and his quality, and the connections, I think. Defensively he’s been huge in Luke’s side too.” [Shaw] a double against two teams that ask a lot of questions on the sides. So it is a very big job for him.
“I’m really happy for him because the goals he’s scoring are very different goals, but he’s put so much into the performance, it’s nice to see him smiling and happy. He obviously came off with, hopefully, a bit of a cramp. Hopefully it’s nothing worse, but in the end he came off and it shows what he put into the performance, and hopefully he’s not too bad. It’s hard to say at this stage, so we’ll just have to wait and see. Certainly, we hope it’s not too bad.” – Michael Carrick on Patrick Dorgu
As for Fernandes, he has now produced an assist and collected 22 points in three consecutive Gameweeks.
ARSENAL NOT AT THEIR BEST
Arsenal have recently dropped points against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Man Utd.
Mikel Arteta made four changes to the team that defeated Inter Milan in midweek Piero Hincapie (£5.2m) back after injury to left back and Gabriel Jesus (£6.4m) favored the top after his brace in Italy.
But Arsenal were clearly not at their best and, apart from set-pieces, found it difficult to create.
Then the first goal came Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) – who spent the final 15 minutes on the left flank – delivered a clipped ball to Martin Odegaard (£7.8 million), who cut his effort towards goal. Of Jurriën Hout (£6.3 million) in close proximity the ball bounced away Lisandro Martinez (£4.8m) and in net.
Replacement Mikel Merino (£5.5m) added the second from yet another dead ball situation.
In light of this loss, the upcoming match against Leeds United at Elland Road in Gameweek 24 may not feel as easy as before.
In any case, Wednesday will be preceded by a dead rubber against Kairat Almaty, giving Arteta the opportunity to rotate his team.
Elsewhere, Declan Rice (£7.4m) almost reached the threshold for a defensive contribution (DefCon), with 10, while also registering three shots and four chances created.
Above: Declan Rice created a match-high four chances (CC) in Gameweek 23
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