Temo wrote:

This!
We are 8th but we’ve had such a tough schedule. I’m not stressed yet. This game, the Sheffield 2nd half, and the Leicester 1st half showed us building on the defensive foundation. We aren’t scoring freely, but it will come soon hopefully. 

Clrnc wrote:

I get why Arteta kept Willian on because he is safe with his passing compared to Pepe, but we need to start gelling a proper front 3 together.

Willian wasn't safe though, he lost the ball constantly in the first half.

Arteta says this win changed the entire outlook of our start to the season and we shouldn't have lost to City and Leicester on merit.

Imagine if we got a draw and a win out of those matches we would have been top.

Wow.....l
The metamorphosis of Elneny...Amazing.
Partey is so smooth running with the ball...
What a difference this midfield duo...
Such a pleasure to have him and Gabriel in that spine.
Holding had a decent game...
Tierney still off his mark...Saka not quite there...
Bellerin's intelligence made a difference...
Willian improved as the game progressed...
Can't say that about Laca...
And Arteta gets it right with preparing the team for this match and the a formation (almost)...

Clean sheet for Leno...

Qwiss! wrote:

Clrnc wrote:

I get why Arteta kept Willian on because he is safe with his passing compared to Pepe, but we need to start gelling a proper front 3 together.

Willian wasn't safe though, he lost the ball constantly in the first half.

Yeah he was torrid, even the touches were all off. But in the last 20 minutes is experience showed and he was decent.

Clrnc wrote:

Arteta says this win changed the entire outlook of our start to the season and we shouldn't have lost to City and Leicester on merit.

Imagine if we got a draw and a win out of those matches we would have been top.

True but we didn't. I think he talks the right talk. Get the players scoring more and we're set. He's making the right tweaks to give credit.

Is this the first time in the 00s that we've won back-to-back games against Man United?

We have the best defensive record in the Premier League, despite already playing Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United away.

Proper chuffed with the result. Maybe I was needlessly pessimistic before/during the game.

Gabriel is the signing of the season so far. 22 million is a steal when you look at the prices for other defenders all around.

In Tierney and Saka it feels like Arsenal spent 40M eur to reinforce the flanks

Relieved more than anything. Glad we won but looking forward to the day when we're able to create a few more chances against a mediocre United side. Will take the positives and credit for the win (we were better after all) but we do need to find a balance in committing men forward when there's an opening.

Clrnc wrote:

I need to repeat this again though, Holding plays and we look solid and won again. He works really well in our defensive unit and is intelligent in his play.

He's solid defensively, but still isn't good enough with the ball at his feet for how Arteta wants us to play. Slow and cumbersome, passes not crisp enough.

For a third option CB he's alright. Hopefully he can stay fit. Anything to keep Mustafi as far away from playing as possible.

Oh yeah and Partey/Gabriel look great signings. Hope it's a sign of smart money moves to come.

Tireless running from Elneny in the dying minutes.

Klaus wrote:

Is this the first time in the 00s that we've won back-to-back games against Man United?

Since 06-07 when the Adebayor 1-0 win with the Henry last minute header win.

In fact our record against them is pretty decent in all competitions since Welbeck broke our winless duck against them in 2015. Since then, we have played them 14 times, won 6, drawn 4, lost 4.

goon wrote:

Claudius wrote:

This!
We are 8th but we’ve had such a tough schedule. I’m not stressed yet. This game, the Sheffield 2nd half, and the Leicester 1st half showed us building on the defensive foundation. We aren’t scoring freely, but it will come soon hopefully. 

We’re a point off second too as things stand. It was a really important win today to keep a positive narrative going. Makes a big difference.

I’m also glad we dropped Xhaka. 
I think there was a fear about losing a top player. Quincy and I had this discussion at length - where I felt that even though Xhaka might be a better player, Elneny would give us better balance with Partey. And the two of them played like a proper midfield - Vieira /Parlour lite - with a good combination of defensive and offensive appetite from both men.  Both guys constantly look to get the ball upfield. It’s riskier, but they’re also both able to win it back. Will need to see it a few more times to see if it can deliver consistently