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Manchester United fans might feel aggrieved by the manner in which they lost, but they were actually fortunate and Arsenal should have won by more goals.
Arsenal needed a 90th-minute Eddie Nketiah strike to claim all three points in their 3-2 win over Manchester United, but in truth, the scoreline flattered Manchester United and the Gunners were unfortunate not to win by more.
Arsenal were clearly the better side against Manchester United
Arsenal’s dominance over Manchester United can easily be seen in the lopsided nature of most metrics from the match.
The Gunners outpossed the Red Devils 58% to 42%, outshot them 25 to 6, had more corner kicks, (12-4), and even created more big chances (3-0).
They also managed more expected goals than their visitors (2.93-0.33).
Yet those numbers do not paint the grimmest picture for Manchester United’s ill-fated trip to the Emirates stadium.
Arsenal break record for most touches in an opponent’s box against Manchester United
Nothing could be more damning of United’s approach and output against Arsenal than the fact that during the clash of two the English giants, Arsenal registered 63 touches in Manchester United’s box, which is the most that any side has registered in an opponent's box in the Premier League this season.
In comparison, Manchester United registered only 12 in Arsenal’s box.
To make matters worse, the difference between the number of touches that Mikel Arteta’s men had in their opponent’s box and the amount that Erik Ten Hag’s men had in theirs is the second biggest difference in the Premier League so far.
Arsenal had 51 more touches in the opposition box than their opponents and this is only bettered by Manchester City having 53 more touches in the opposition box than their opponents during their 4-0 win over Southampton.
Despite what the scoreline says, and despite the inevitable moaning about referees after a loss like this, Manchester United and their fans will no doubt look back on this game eventually and recognise that they, not Arsenal, were the fortunate team here.
On another day, they would be mourning a humiliating loss.
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