The REAL Reason Arsenal Beat Man United. 

There are 3 problems with Amarabat receiving the ball there from Onana to build out from the back is that: 1- Onana and Casemiro's positions being disrupted by Havertz's slanted run, forcing him to play it to Arsenal's RHS that has a man advantage 2- Declan Rice is elite at setting and executing these pressing traps, we have seen that exact scenario happen like 6-7 different times throughout the season(Him and Odegaard step off the pivots and Saka marks in between the CB and the fullback). Rice would be on you trying to get the ball off you before Onana even attempts the pass 3- Evans not making an easier passing option open to make Onana's life easier. Arsenal this season have been OK in their in possession build up play but their OOP hybrid pressing is elite and most of the credit for that should be given to Havertz, Rice and Odegaard. Love the vids James

Kambwala coming back from an injury, if he goes off injured again in the first half, it's different criticism of ten hag. Think ten hag knows casameiro doesn't work as CB but was the only real choice to start the game. Love the videos James

5 centre backs, 2 left backs, 2 midfielders, and 2 forwards out injured is insane.

As an Arsenal fan, my biggest take away from this game was .. holy f*** Old Trafford is a s**t-hole of a stadium, Uniteds owners should be ashamed.

AWB as a cb? His positional awareness is terrible and awful in the air. Only have 2 fit fullbacks and you want to play one at cb… just because Casemiro is a bad cb it doesn’t mean there’s a better option.

I get Casemiro doesnt work ,but no one else is available , Willy probably not fit to start every other option is injured

Agree, Casemiro is generally done at a top level sadly. And Dalot's athleticism was REALLY shining through this game. Saka and Arsenal's midfield couldnt cope with his runs.

The pass to Amrabat isn't on as you can see Declan is already on his bike and Onana is still 3-5yds from the ball. I get you cant use video but trying to analyse these scenarios via a freeze frames means you miss context because it doesn't fit your agenda (in this case AWB to CB).

wow that was quick

Manchester United needs a significant update on and off the pitch. The number of injuries and deadwood at the club is ridiculous, with Old Trafford being a Theatre of Wet Dreams... Literally!

“Playing Casemiro doesn’t work” who tf else can he play there big man?😭😭😭 every other center back and full back is injured, we’ve been playing our right backs and midfielders in central defense and left back almost the whole season.

Garnacho was horrific today really poor. Arsenal were sloppy but their defence is so good that they can go 1-0 up against most teams and sit back for 70 minutes to keep the result

I understand what you are saying but there is really no clear option, AWB is def not a CB, maybe Dalot RB, AWB CB, Evans CB, Amrabat LB, Casemiro CDM is better but honestly I doubt it. AWB is actually pretty poor at running back he loves a good jog back over a sprint, he isn't great under pressure, he's a bit clumsy and while he is an incredible tackler, positionally he's one of the worst in the team.

Reminds me of 20/21 season when Liverpools defence was decimated by injuries. Klopp spent too long that season playing Fabinho and Henderson at CB. It just didnt work. Liverpool only started getting results towards the end of the season when Klopp started playing Phillips and Rhys Williams. Just use a CB from the academy.

A Supersport screenshot? Unexpected

Garnacho had Ben White on toast and produced next to zero expected assists and barely threatened the goal, whatever makes you feel better I guess 😂

I love the videos James. But it’s not like we have many CBs fit at the moment. It was either Casemiro or McTominay. AWBs positional awareness is crap.

Main takeaway from this video is that Casemiro should have sprunt

I was really disappointed with the performance by Arsenal. Can’t tell if it’s just that these guys are exhausted, but the desire to win duels high up the pitch and the press in general was just not there. Arteta’s delay in making subs is endlessly frustrating. Saka was not impacting the game at all and as soon as Jesus was introduced he was making things happen.

Amazing content out so quick

Awesome analysis mate. Easy to understand and makes a lot of sense. Among the best analysis I have ever seen. Will follow you for more

Garnacho was embarrassing. Speed and nothing else.

At 7.50 you are explaining that Cassimero is stranded but hes not in my book, he's placing himself between Harvetz and Rice which you seemed to forget about. At the same time Evans is doing the same as Cassimero, stopping the ball being played to Rice. Both man utd players positioning suggest that they're were happy for Harvetz to carry on running to the near post. Wan bissaka lost his man and the pass from Havertz to Trossard was a last minute decision from him. Love the show thanks 👍

Don't play long unless you recognize your teammates are set in place to recover in case the long pass gets turned over.

Love your content James, really enjoy your videos.

Context - From the Gary Neville interview with Ten Hag, he (EtH) stated he wasn't taking short term actions like altering formations etc when he was charged by the owners to implement a long term plan regarding a style of play, tactic and general ethos. I assume this is why he didn't move to a back three, or promote an academy player into the first XI (which might have been unfair on that kid I suppose). Hence why Casemiro was played there. Whether there is a long term plan, is debatable. Whether he (Manager) should prioritise that and sacrifice short term points is debatable. There are so many levels to how Manchester United are currently being operated and in the wider context have been run in last decade. The roof once again pouring in water, those pictures are screened around the world as a visual metaphor of a club that is more than a bit lost at the moment. Fix the roof, i.e. fix the fundamentals. Agree, and in a certain way, feel sorry for Casemiro, to mix sporting metaphors, he looks like a fighter out on his feet, the humane thing to have done was to pull him out of the firing line. Whether it is on sacrifice of a longer plan or Ten Hags ego or pride, it is Casemiro's reputation that has been dented in the last few games.

Awb's spatial awareness are really not upto mark to be a cb, he is good at sliding tackle but he let's soo many players run in behind because of lack of scanning , the next question is who would play rb - we tried a lot of options with having cm in wing backs positions during starting of season and fucked up

I get that he's not a centre back, but who should he have played instead?

The linesman made more effort to get up the pitch than casrmiro

What are you talking about? Passing to Amrabat would have been a suicide pass.

I get Casemiro is not right for CB but if you look at that squad with Kambwala coming back from injury and not able to play 90, I’m not sure who else could have played there. Possibly Dalot at CB and then an academy player as left or right back. Big risk to play academy CB

"The football has left him."

onana should be clearing that ball far center not to the left side. he can see that pocket of space on the left.

I'm not sure I want to blame Evans so much... He controls his opponents to the best of his ability, but Casemiro simply doesn't measure up. With a natural center-back beside him, Evans' plan would probably have succeeded.

the software where jla put circles and arrows and swiped between pictures does anyone know what that is

Splendid video James

Evans being 36 is not an excuse, pepe and Thiago Silva are playing at elite level at 40s and 38

the quality of football basics in this match was so embarrasing from both sides. Even tactically it was shockingly uninspiring.

More often than not I find myself agreeing with what you say… however, AWB at cb is an atrocious call. His defensive awareness is appalling and would get exposed at every opportunity

I appreciate you not shitting on Ten Hag like so many people love to do; his system worked well but a defensive calamity cost the team. If we had a fully fit team (or only missing one player, like Arsenal), then I genuinely believe we would've trounced Arsenal given how flat they were for most of the game. AWB at CB is a very odd shout. For one, his positional awareness and marking is absolutely terrible (see the goal); he wouldn't be any better than Casemiro imo. Two, we don't have anyone else to play RB as AWB is our only other fit FB. If you put one of the midfielders back there, then they'd be just as effective as playing Casemiro at CB or AWB at LB. Maybe play Antony at LB or Amass, idk, but ETH has very few options. lol

Mate i love the vids but at 1:29 u say "playing casemiro just doesnt work" but ten hag litterally cant play anyone else. Heres the list of injuries to cb's: Varane, martinez, maguire, lindelof, and then kambawala is only half fit.

What's the software you're using, mate?

Whoever has been in the back line this season ETHball has been like watching the U12s, with everyone gravitating toward the ball or all chasing one player. He has his ideas going forward but teams aren't either defensive or attacking these days - hit the nail on the head with vibes of Angeball.

By the way, it definitely was *that*

1. Mainoo is pointing where onana should hit it long. Trosdard pressed high. With a massive gap behind and all midfielders were gone. Hit long there and its a 2v1. 2. Casemiro walking out and back.. 3. Awb could have and should have done more.. 4. Eriksen as right back would have been a disaster.. and awb as cb too..

As an Arsenal fan it looks like Casemiero was expecting that pass from Onana...but then he cleared it directly to one of our players

It's not like Casemiro is his first choice CB is it? Lets not forget Jonny Evans is 5th or 6th choice CB himself whos been playing through a knock. Playing AWB at CB would be an easy option if United had any other back available. Arsenal are strong on the wings and wide areas and you want to play any random player as the back against them?? I would have liked to see Kambwala start but an inexperienced 19 year old just back from an injury against Arsenal probably wouldn't have gone well either. Amrabat hasnt played much not exactly going to be in sync with everyone. Don't know what people expect to happen with a team that has so many injuries they literally cant field an actual starting 11.

I honestly don't get the praise Garnachos gets. He's awful. He will charge forward and either run straight into trouble, run the ball out of play, try to show off and lose the ball, or ignore the obvious pass and take a shot that's miles wide or straight to the keeper. He makes one admittedly beautiful bicycle kick and suddenly hes amazing, ignoring the fact that he's cost man utd hundreds of chances

So are you going to play at cb? We had casemiro and Evans, who would you have started ahead of them?

I agree with most of your comments here but casemiro should not be outside of the near post, he needs to be within the width of the goal posts to effect a cutback with an interception or block.

Everybody saying AWB should be the CB. Yet he had no awareness to keep a check on his attacker who scored the goal.

Background is missing the hanging hammer

Today we need to thanks casemiro. If the result 0-0 we still dont get europe. With 0-1 Arsenal need appreciate and thanks casemiro❤😢

Onana's view of the game from Man Utd's viewpoint is probably one of the best on the pitch. Arsenal are there to win the game, so any crack in Utd's defence will be forced open.

James.. you just said that Trossard/Arsenal haven't been great down the left side. Trossard has scored so many vital goals this season, most clinical infront of goal and he plays on the left I was onboard with everything you said until then

The real reason arsenal beat Man Utd is because they scored more goals, James

Play AWB CB? He is a delight for strikers being onside - also, please enlighten me as to who plays RB if AWB plays CB?

It’s a lose / lose situation if onana played it short Arsenal press may have work an another goal would be possible at the end of the day Casemiro was at fault for the goal

Can't mainoo run? I have never seen a 19 yr old that is so slow. The lack of pace might be what stops him from being a world class

Understand AWB could offer more as a CB but there’s no fullback option as a replacement United cannot do that

What option does Ten Hag have? There are up to 7 first team players injured and he was the closest to a CB

All of a sudden we trust amrabat with his back to goal

Mainoo's doing a bloody Irish Jig!!

That mistake by Casemeiro waa literally the only difference between the two teams. Arsenal created nothing. Neither did Utd. The end.

Forget about the alleged Casemiro error, they could have scored two to win!

Is it not better to play Amrabat as a LCB as he can play CDM and LB instead of making a CDM a RCB??

As an Arsenal fan, I know that goal wasn't Casimero's fault

Stand by the manager, trust the process. Nothing is instant. ETH is the man.

The audio is so bad, the volume keeps changing

So who should play as cb? We are full of injuries...

That’s how Ben white plays, he doesn’t have enough pace for a full back.. so he’ll always gives you what I call useless space until you come into his danger zone

It was definitely "this"

with your waffling i understand where you are getting at, however, i would be the only person that sees the initial ball played and won was from the clearance kick from Onana, if he would have blasted the ball out for a throw- in , Arsernal's play would be halted ofc i am the only one

Harry amass at LB Dalot at RB AWB CB

Casemiro, what a sprunt...

-65 goal difference off the top is crazy 😂😂

Don't blame Casemiro, it is ten hak, who don't know how to teach theirs children...

Brother there is quite literally no one else to play at cb. You’re saying don’t play him as your biggest critique, but Jonny isn’t healthy, Kembwalla couldn’t play 90 minutes, and everyone else on the depth chart is unavailable… gotta give better justification

Garnacho capitalising on the marking mistake from White would have changed the narrative completely…

Why bissaska can't play as CB,he can't play ball higher off pitch,so better play as CB..he is good in defending...

No way was Amarabat an option there. You can see Rice already angling his run toward Amarabat and Arsenal's midfield have been very effective on the press this season. Evans is in no mans land, AWB and Dalot arent open. Mainoo is calling for the clearance. Onana should have knocked that ball out of existence. The clearance is poor, its found White and obviously Casemiro has had a disaster. Very simply, United arent up to the proper standard across the board.

A large portion of Arsenal goals this seasons were from winning back possession, fast transition from defence to attack where they really catch opponents off guard. Honestly, I'm not a fan of it, I feel like with the players we have are more than capable of playing total control and possession based but hey! they broke a 130 or so years record on points, goals conceded and goals, who am i to critic Arteta and the team?

Amrabt played very well Casamiro played very well it was just a small mistake

Arsenal was sloppy at best, and they don't deserve to win. This is the sort of performance we saw against PSV, Porto or Bayern away in the champions league. They are lucky to score an early goal, there is no way they can score with the nerves if it is 0-0 at half time.

You missed Onana who should have easily cut out the pass. Not good enough

If it wasnt for Onana it would have been 3 or 4-0.

I just have one problem with everyone talking about the goal Iam a united fan it is upsetting to lose against Arsenal however remember everyone on sky sports and Jamie Carragher especially goes on talking how united is not about points it’s about performance and now when the performance was there(not for the entirety of the game but still was) everyone wants to nullify that and talk about points. This media and all the sky sports guys are crap. Some of the United’s greats were sitting there I don’t think they would be any good if they were playing without their first second or their choice CB’s.

I think Casemiro did that intentionally.

You cannot play awb at CB, wouldn’t even be able to pretend to play out the back

Man Utd has the faculty to destroy any good players or coach that comes to their club, there was no ManU since Ferguson left, this club is a mess

I remember the days when we used to scram at arsenal to shoot.. And stop passing the ball into the Net.. And now we're doing that every other game😂 literally passing it and tapping it into the net. Wenger Ball.

you're hopping around the topics too much. just talk through in sequence of the goal. each error in sequence of the play.

I say we just don't play Onana Dalot Maguire Martinez Shaw Casemiro Mainoo Garnacho Fernandes Rashford Højlund for the last two matches and pray they'll be fit for the FA Cup final in two weeks. Give Bayindir Amrabat Kambwala Amad Forson Wheatley their chance to impress.

A better technical team will make a good team to work for nothing. That's what arsenal did to Manchester united.

Really, this goal is the problem?!? How about the lack of heart and offense…

RU-vid coaches be acting as if they can do better with a depleted squad. You can moan all you like Casemiro is not a cb and theres no cb available to fill that spot. who would you rather play there?

There not injured, hes saving them for fa cup final.

we could play a 3 back, wan, evans and dalot. 3-5-2.

The coach should create depth and right player combinations , introduce young players and have a larger squad . He should think and act like a big team coach and not coach through the media for his glory at the expense of his players and Man United . Liverpool has a larger squad of quality players than Man U and the coach is able to manage the squad and you can see the steady growth every year for both the players and the club . All the players are given game time and the project is healthy . The first thing at Man U that needs fixing is the mentality of the coach , he should start respecting the Premier league , the players and the club . We can not have a coach day dreaming every week , telling us that he has come to end Man City and Liverpool eras and deliver to us the opposite . He sold to us a good dream , but actually he continues to deliver sub-standard and is getting paid for it . He refuses to see logic and that the club is sinking , does not offer solutions and he continues to see prosperity yonder . Something needs to change .

Disagree with the Wan Bissaka at CB shout. Yes hes great 1v1. But that hides the fact its often because his positioning is off. As a CB theres less room for error. Positioning needs to be immaculate. I dont think in a team thats so out of form you should risk playing 2 players out of position. With what he had at his disposal theres few options. Although Case at CB has been shown that's not even an option anymore.n