Reset

Three games in a week; a frustrating home defeat, a Champions League dead rubber, and a trip to Yorkshire.

Let’s get straight into it. The United defeat. I’ll admit, before the game I was confident. I felt our controlled style and precision would be too much for United, who under Carrick might also be a bit more open. And to be fair, that’s exactly how it started. We had intent, we had drive, we forced the early chances. Bukayo had space on the right to run at them, Zubimendi forced a good save from a set piece, and it felt like one of those games where the first goal would open the floodgates.

Duly, around the half-hour mark, the ball found Odegaard. From my angle it looked like a scuffed mishit across the box, Timber next to Martinez, and somehow the ball ended up in the net. The replay showed how well Odegaard actually did to keep it alive. Finally a lead and time to kick on. Me and the supporter next to me even said we could kill it off before half-time. How wrong we were.

From the moment we scored, it was like Space Jam — the aliens had stolen our talent. Mistake after mistake, misplaced pass after misplaced pass. United grew into the game, and then came the equaliser. Everything looked normal; Arsenal composed at the back, Zubimendi pulling wide into the right-back spot as Timber inverted. He tried a first-time pass back towards goal, it bobbled straight into Mbeumo’s path, he rounded Raya, and it was 1–1. The first real error from the former Sociedad maestro. It’s noticeable how much risk we take at the back to invite the press, yet we rarely take those same risks in the final third lately.

Half-time, 1–1. Plenty of time to win it, but much like the Liverpool home game, we didn’t look switched on. United found pockets, and Mbeumo gave Saliba and Gabriel their most awkward afternoon of the season. Backing in, winning duels, winning headers. Then came their second, like a flash. Dorgu in a congested area, Arsenal players around but not engaging, and he whipped it into the top corner. Stunned.

Arteta made four instant subs, but they didn’t really unlock anything. Our best hope was a set piece, and Merino delivered with ten minutes to go. It felt like another draw, but the feeling in the ground was to push for a winner, to restore the seven‑point gap. Instead, we got the gut punch. The ball ran out of play, United went long from the goal kick, we lost the first header, missed a tackle, it bounced around and fell to Cunha in acres. As soon as he picked it up, I had that dread. He curled it around Gabriel into the bottom corne, Raya with absolute no chance. We didn’t fashion a real chance after that to find another equaliser. A first home league defeat of the season.

A lot was made of the boos. For me, it wasn’t anger , it was a wake‑up call. A “fix up, you’re too good for this” type moment.

This game highlighted something we’ve seen since we beat Spurs so convincingly at home, since then we take the lead, but we don’t follow it up with a second instantly. We manage the next 20–30 minutes with control rather than killer instinct. Earlier title challenges like 2022-23, we were more like Klopp’s Liverpool — blow teams away early, we scored so many early goals that season. In the end that caught up with us, but now we’ve swung the other way, with ultra control in the league. This game really did feel like the kick up the arse we maybe needed in the league.

Thankfully, football always gives you another game quickly. Arteta spoke about bringing the temperature down, and the changes for Kairat at home did exactly that. Havertz, Eze, Calafiori all starting, Gyökeres back in the XI. We started fast, Eze and Havertz immediately looking forward. The first goal summed it up; Eze finding it deep, threading between the lines, Havertz on the turn, and finally a through ball for Gyökeres to run onto. Power, pace, early shot, 1–0 inside two minutes.

For a dead rubber, it was actually surprisingly entertaining. Kairat went up the other end, Calafiori decided he wanted a souvenir shirt practically and gave away a penalty after VAR intervened. Pandemonium in the away end and with the players scoring the resulting penalty.

But the gulf in quality was obvious. Arsenal had the ball constantly in this game; Kepa didn’t make a save at all. Our second was direct again; Ben White clipped one down the line, Havertz and Gyökeres chasing. A mix of battering ram, collision, and chaos ended with Havertz cutting inside and firing past the keeper, who looked like he dived past it.

What I really enjoyed was the telepathy between Havertz and Gyökeres. Maybe it’s Kai’s experience at nine; he knows the movements, the early passes a striker wants. Every time he received it, he turned, head up, looking forward. If he brings that into the league, it’s another attacking option, and maybe even the key to unlocking Gyökeres rather than competing with him.

Our third was lovely; edge‑of‑the‑box interplay, Nørgaard channelling Mesut Özil with a backheel flick to Havertz, the ball across, Gyökeres’ touch, and Martinelli finishing at the back post. VAR gave it after a brief check. The atmosphere was relaxed, no jeopardy, almost pre‑season vibes — but enjoyable nonetheless,

Second half brought more changes. Havertz got his 45 minutes and made way for Odegaard. The game became attack vs defence. The score should’ve been more handsome, but the intent was there. Jesus even scored a delightful finish from a Nørgaard quarterback like pass, think of a Cesc pass, chest control, lovely strike but VAR again stepping in. Kairat had the final say with a late header, but by then it felt like the night was winding down.

The game served its purpose, rhythm restored, temperature lowered, confidence rebuilt. Eze and Havertz brought drive, Gyökeres added another goal, and we looked more like ourselves.

Then came Leeds away. Team news was interesting; Havertz starting again, which felt deserved after midweek. Leeds had their early burst, one shot over the bar, but from then on we controlled it. We took the sting out of the game and imposed ourselves. Redemption for Zubimendi too, recycled corner, Rice to Madueke (who replaced Saka in the warm‑up), whipped to the front post, and Zubimend; who has a great leap — made it 1–0.

And crucially, unlike recent weeks, we followed it up. Another goal in the half. Madueke again with a dangerous delivery to the front post, a Nicolas Jover favourite. Instead of avoiding the congested area, we seem to attack it from most deliveries. No Arsenal player even needed to touch it; the panic alone put it in the net, Darlow seemingly panicked by Calvert Lewin infront of him.

It should’ve been three after half time, Gyökeres had a chance similar to the Kairat goal but didn’t shoot early enough after a great ball round the corner from Trossard. But keep getting into those positions and you’ll score. Martinelli, on as a sub, burst down the right, beat his man, cut it back on his weaker left, and Gyökeres getting a touch on it from six yards out. Exactly the areas we’ve struggled to get him into this season. Quietly, for all the memes and jokes, his goal return is looking very good with four months left.

Jesus came on and added to the scoring. One header saved brilliantly, but his goal was vintage Gabby. Close control, composure, readjust and great low fired finish into the bottom corner. If City have Haaland, it’s nice that all three of our strikers are contributing as we enter the business end now that they are all available.

A statement win. Confidence for the players, reassurance for the fans. Now it’s the semi‑final second leg with Chelsea in the league cup, then Sunderland at home on Saturday.

It’s easy to say “enjoy the run‑in,” but I think now we actually can. That United defeat might prove vital, the reset we needed.

You’ll never be perfect in a title run‑in, but that doesn’t matter after 38 games. With our defensive stability and now the attacking options firing and available, we’ve got a platform to do something special as we go into the business end of the season. Four months left, time for all of us to embrace it.

Even Spurs remembered how to play football in the second half on Sunday against City, and Villa dropped points too. Until the next one, hopefully a final on the horizon and a home win next Sunday to put us potentially nine points of clear of second place.

UTA.