Manchester United put up an impressive showing- perhaps one of the most dominant of the season- when they played host to Arsenal in an early Saturday kick off.
Jose Mourinho’s charges were in cruise control of the encounter from the onset, with the visitors seeing none of the ball for greater margins of the game.
The first half may have ended even with a goalless draw, but it was all a matter of when and not if United would score a goal.
It was Juan Mata who finally broke the deadlock midway through the second half with a fine sweep to cap off a well executed team goal, but the Gunners were not to be denied.
Taking nothing away from the goal, Arsenal undeservedly found the equalizer dead into normal time through a thunderous Olivier Giroud header.
With little time to marshal a comeback, United were forced to share the spoils with the visitors, further derailing their title chances.
As such, here are four conclusions from the encounter.
More grey clouds at Old Trafford
Manchester United are seemingly entangled in an unending web of bud luck. Honestly who has this much bad luck and lives to tell about it?
Late equalizers against Stoke, Burnley and most recently Arsenal has cost the Red Devils a staggering six points, which could see them propelled to top four and well in title contention.
Quite frankly all this talk about ill-luck from the gaffer is really grinding my gears. You can never get any more than you deserve in a football match.
You can run out of luck once or twice, but there is no such thing as third time unlucky. Get to work Jose!
Wake up call for De Gea
A good goalkeeper makes saves, while a great goalkeeper makes saves he doesn’t have the right to make.
David De Gea is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but conceding a game changing goal for the third time is utterly and completely unacceptable.
I know the back four isn’t the most reassuring with the current injury crisis, but surely the Spanish number one should have rose to the occasion the one time his services were needed.
Mata on impressive run
Juan Mata has over the last three months proven everyone wrong, and Jose Mourinho is no exception.
His goal scoring exploits against tougher Premier League opposition such as Manchester City and Arsenal goes to show how much of a prized asset the 28-year old is.
Back to drawing board
Despite spending £150 million in transfers in the summer, United are still languishing sixth in the Premier League log, six points behind fourth placed Arsenal and a whooping nine points behind leaders Chelsea.
With Mourinho’s desire to win the Premier League at Old Trafford a given, it’s back to the drawing board for the Portuguese manager.
Written by Brian Humphrey
Follow Brian on Twitter @brihum
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