Arsenal didn’t dazzle at Old Trafford. They didn’t pass United into submission or put on a technical masterclass. Instead, they fought, they scrambled, and they nicked a 1-0 win and honestly, that’s exactly what champions do.
The game was decided in the most Arsenal way right now: a set piece. Declan Rice whipped in an inswinger, Altay Bayindir flapped, and the ball was in. Simple. Effective. Brutal.
That’s 31 goals from corners since the start of last season 11 more than any other side. For a team once accused of needing to dominate to win, this is a new edge, a cold-blooded one.
United had their moments, hit the post, and forced David Raya into seven saves. But Arsenal’s grit shone through. Arteta’s men weren’t perfect in fact, they were rusty. Viktor Gyökeres is still adjusting, Martin Zubimendi is still learning the Premier League’s chaos, and the fluency will come. Yet, here’s the thing: Arsenal won anyway.
This wasn’t luck. It was resilience. It was organization. It was the ability to grind out three points at one of the toughest away grounds even if United are still finding themselves under Amorim. And that matters.
Look at the other contenders: City looked slick, sure, but Liverpool and Chelsea both dropped levels in their own ways. Arsenal had the hardest start and came out with a win in Manchester. That’s a statement. That’s a warning.
If last season Arsenal were all about artistry, this season they’ve added steel. And that’s why, ugly or not, this win at Old Trafford felt beautiful.
