If Arsenal intends to make a serious title challenge this season, they’ll do so by riding a wave of support.

 

This refers to the Gunners players who surge in from behind the back post whenever they earn a corner, crowd the opponent’s six-yard box, and often find the net.

 

 

 

Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners over Manchester United at the EmiratesCredit: GETTY

 

Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock in the 4th minute with a deft headerCredit: REUTERS

 

 

William Saliba unknowingly scored the Gunners’ secondCredit: REUTERS

In this match, Ruben Amorim experienced his first loss as Manchester United manager, as Arsenal scored from two familiar set-piece plays—one header by Jurrien Timber and a fortunate goal off William Saliba’s right buttock.

That lucky strike from the French defender marked Arsenal’s 22nd goal from a corner in the Premier League since the previous season, seven more than any other team.

Mikel Arteta’s strategies may resemble those of Tony Pulis more than Arsene Wenger’s, but no one at the Emirates will mind if they can challenge Liverpool effectively.

 

While Arne Slot’s team finally dropped points in a dramatic game against Newcastle, the Gunners were grinding out a win against a cautious United side that aimed for a draw but left empty-handed.

Arteta’s team is now just seven points behind leaders Liverpool and trails second-place Chelsea on goal difference.

There is a glimmer of hope, albeit small, following this third consecutive convincing league victory.

Amorim’s squad hardly managed a shot on target until a stunning save by David Raya stopped Matthijs De Ligt midway through the second half.

 

However, the 13-0 corner count clearly illustrates the situation. You can’t give Arsenal that many set-piece opportunities when they excel at executing them.

Guru Nico Jover will take even more plaudits after this – and for all the talk of Amorim’s tactical genius, United were supremely unconvincing at this defensive basic.

Amorim is still at the bingo master stage with his team selections as he grapples with the various permutations among his squad.

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There were six changes from the 4-0 thumping of Everton – including the benching of Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee, who between them netted all four goals on Sunday.

 

Mason Mount, a player Amorim has expressed his “love” for, was handed his first league start since August – against his best chum Declan Rice.

Arsenal’s defensive resources were being stretched Gabriel and Ricardo Calafiori joining Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the injury list, with Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko both drafted in.

On a filthy old night in north London, the first half was a tough old watch.

There was precious little devilment from Arsenal and United found it all too easy to sit in their shape and threaten on the counter.

Gabriel Martinelli had the ball in the net early on but Kai Havertz had been well offside.

 

Arsenal’s only real threat was from their trademark corner-kick routines – Thomas Partey mistiming a header from point-blank range and the ball cannoning wide off his shoulder.

Martinelli blazed wide after Andre Onana had punched a dangerous Saka corner out from beneath his bar.

Amorim sat on his haunches, stroked his chin and watched the chess. Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane would have hated it.

It wasn’t until the 43rd minute that United had a shot – Diogo Dalot drilling wide across goal.

Yet there wasn’t a single effort on target from either side during one of the most forgettable halves of football you could ever imagine watching.

Tyrell Malacia, who booked in a tangle with Havertz just before the interval, was hooked at half-time to make way for Amad Diallo – the stand-out star of Amorim’s early reign.

New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim predicted his side would soon face a “storm”Credit: REUTERS

The Portuguese gaffer ended up putting his head in his hands in the second halfCredit: Reuters

Soon after the second half got away, Liverpool had their lead cancelled out at Newcastle and there was just a glimmer of hope that some sort of title race might occur. And that Arsenal might be part of it.

Rice soon had a shot deflected over and then, after a lengthy injury delay as Matthijs De Ligt received treatment, Arsenal forced another corner and finally seized the lead.

Arsenal were packing the six-yard box every time they won a set-piece and this time Rice delivered to the near post, where Rasmus Hojlund failed to connect and Timber snuck in behind him to glance a header past Onana.

Amorim immediately turned to his bench and sent on Rashford and Zirkzee, along with debutant defender Lenny Yoro, who had been injured in pre-season following a summer move from Lille.

His first task was to help deal with another couple of Arsenal corners, Manuel Ugarte clearing the next one off the line after a Rice in-swinger.

Diallo gave Zinchenko the run-around and was hauled down on the edge of the area by the Ukrainian full-back, who was booked.

Fernandes delivered the free-kick and De Ligt’s towering header forced a magnificent clawing save from a full-stretched David Raya – the Arsenal keeper’s first meaningful action of the night, midway through the second half.

Zinchenko was soon withdrawn in favour of Mikel Merino, with Thomas Partey moving to right-back as Leandro Trossard replaced Martinelli.

Then came the second, a corner conceded by Rashford attempting to play keepy-uppy on his own goal line.

Saka swung this one in from the right, Partey nodded back from beyond the far post as the ball cannoned in off Saliba’s backside.

Havertz should have completed the job soon after when latched on to Odegaard’s sweet pass only for Onana to block the German at near post.

From another corner, Merino headed wide across goal.

And Partey then went close from – you guessed it, yet another corner.