Arsenal have rarely been accused of winning badly, but it is an accusation they will happily accept later a 1-0 win at Manchester United befitting this unflattering description – and much more.
Mikel Arteta’s side were troubled and well below their best against a desperately poor United side, but it was three points that meant a lot to them.
This monstrous game was resolved with a 20th-minute strike from Leandro Trossard at the near post after Casemiro fell asleep – not literally, of course – in an unforgivable way to put Kai Havertz on the field.
Casemiro, a sad, faded shadow of the great player who commanded Real Madrid’s midfield during their Champions League glories, simply left.
Havertz initially looked well offside until a glance revealed the lazy veteran playing with him, leaving Trossard the grateful beneficiary.
Manchester City still hold the cards, with the fate of the title in their own hands.
But if Tottenham can somehow do north London rivals Arsenal a favor against Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions on Tuesday, then a first Premier League title in 20 years will be very close.
City have won just once in six visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. These are the kind of statistics Arsenal will examine as they look for hope in every avenue.
If Arsenal are truly waiting for fate to play a hand, this was a day when even the gods were on the Gunners’ side after Manchester were hit by a huge late storm that left the playing surface soggy – and certainly impossible to play. play – 30 minutes after the final whistle.
The end came just in time – no one was raining on this Arsenal parade.
The final stages of a tense, lackluster encounter took place under gray skies and suffocating humidity – thunder and lightning blazing across Old Trafford as rain fell on a roof that has had a few leaks in the past.
It didn’t matter one bit to Arsenal’s players, fans or management when referee Paul Tierney blew the final whistle after six minutes of stoppage time.
Arteta’s trademark black jumper and trousers were soaked in the deluge, but the manager didn’t care.
The prospect of a thrilling finale awaits
Arsenal’s ugly victory came on an ugly day, but it set the perfect stage for the final day of the season.
They asked Manchester City the question. It was a question they had successfully answered so many times in the past, but all Arsenal could do was put it in front of them and, in this context, the mission was accomplished.
It all happened at a ground where they have suffered in the past, with just two wins in their last 17 visits, and even when they weren’t at their best, Arsenal still managed to expose the gulf that currently exists between them and United, a club that naturally considers itself a rival. .
The Gunners looked ready to go for a walk after Trossard’s goal, but were unable to see United score a second goal, and their threat only resurfaced late in the game when United goalkeeper Andre Onana was finally forced into action.
Arsenal were nervous and unconvincing, but have now won 15 of their last 17 games, in the face of Manchester City’s usual sustained attack at this stage of the season, banishing the “choker” label that was given to them when they slipped up late. last season.
If there is one result they can regret, it might be the home defeat to Aston Villa on April 14, but now is not the time to dwell on that setback with everything still ahead of them.
Once again, against an admittedly fragile challenge, Arsenal’s central defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba looked formidable. For all their attacking flourishes, this has been the basis of their title quest, along with the extra dimension of solidity provided by Declan Rice.
Even if Arsenal aren’t celebrating winning the title after Sunday’s final game at home to Everton, Arteta’s men proved their character and resilience, as well as confirming that this is a club and a team heading on an upward trajectory.
That’s all for another day.
Arsenal did what they had to do, even if it wasn’t easy on the eyes, and now the show will move on to next Sunday with every prospect of a thrilling finale.
