How 'desperately Unlucky' Man Utd Showed Signs Of Progress

Sometimes arsenic a pundit you tin still beryllium really affirmative astir a team's capacity moreover erstwhile they lose, and Manchester United's 1-0 conclusion by Arsenal is simply a bully illustration of that.

After conceding a silly early extremity that yet proved decisive, United showed connected Sunday that their strategy useful and besides demonstrated nan quality their caller signings will make to it.

As I said connected Match of nan Day, they were much move and much direct. Physically, they looked really beardown too.

Essentially, they were capable to beryllium overmuch braver erstwhile they tried to triumph nan shot backmost because they person sewage overmuch much value higher up nan pitch.

Yes, they still mislaid and did not score, but United were nan amended squad astatine Old Trafford and will consciousness desperately unlucky they did not get thing retired of nan game.

We cognize United leader Ruben Amorim is not going to deviate from his 3-4-2-1 formation, and they were successful nan aforesaid style again here.

What was different astir United this clip was they were overmuch much affirmative successful nan measurement they were group up, whether they were successful aliases retired of possession.

For a start, their wing-backs Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu were really precocious up nan pitch, and Amad Diallo was moreover much attack-minded erstwhile he replaced Dalot early successful nan 2nd half.

Amorim took a consequence by pressing a squad arsenic bully arsenic Arsenal for illustration that, and successful nan first half they sewage caught connected nan break a fewer times, erstwhile nan Gunners hit their property and had overloads that they did not make nan astir of.

But United were astatine home, truthful they should beryllium connected nan beforehand ft and what I really liked astir them was really they took nan crippled to Arsenal, successful a measurement they seldom did against nan apical teams past play - moreover erstwhile they won.

Yes, United occasionally looked a spot ragged but, overall, nan equilibrium of nan squad was correct and their power was highly high.

If they are to progress, they person to play pinch this benignant of positivity each nan time, and spot that their beforehand players will yet move nan awesome positions they find themselves successful into goals.

United's caller signings who started nan crippled played a immense portion successful their improved performance.

I cognize it is only 1 game, but Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo looked for illustration nan players United dream they will be.

I americium a large instrumentality of what Mikel Arteta has done astatine Arsenal and for galore seasons now 1 of their strengths has been that, successful astir of nan games they play, they power possession and dictate nan tempo to nan opposition.

They did not person that power astatine Old Trafford, however, because of United's energy, bravery and willingness to effort to spell aft them. All of that helped Amorim's broadside defensively too.

Lots of times past play erstwhile United tried to play retired from nan back, they were perpetually caught successful possession. We hardly saw that hap connected Sunday.

With Cunha and Mbeumo, location was a much beingness beingness astatine nan apical of nan pitch, pinch tons of gait and runners who wanted to get down Arsenal's defence.

Last season, United's beforehand statement was beautiful non-existent. Teams were not frightened of them truthful they would conscionable tally each complete them.

They now person value players successful onslaught who are afloat of confidence, who tin frighten guidance defenders. That gives them respect consecutive away.

You could spot that against nan Gunners. With United looking to get nan shot guardant quickly, Arsenal's defenders were worried astir Cunha and Mbeumo truthful they sat successful alternatively than trying to get guardant to termination nan crippled off.

The United wing-backs were ever consenting to get guardant successful support too, knowing Cunha and Mbeumo were going to support nan ball. Mason Mount had an fantabulous crippled too, which was different large positive.

As it went on, you felt much and much for illustration a United equaliser was coming.

Despite having 22 shots, it did not rather hap for them, but it still felt for illustration their onslaught is much vulnerable - and erstwhile Benjamin Sesko is afloat fresh he will adhd moreover much firepower.

Of people location are still immoderate mobility marks complete United - they intelligibly were not cleanable because they lost.

They whitethorn request a caller cardinal midfielder to switch Manuel Ugarte aliases Casemiro, because I cognize not everyone thinks they are nan perfect fresh alongside Bruno Fernandes, who mightiness request personification much powerful to do a spot much moving for him.

There are doubts complete their goalkeeper business too, which costs them again present pinch Altay Bayindir's correction for Riccardo Calafiori's winner.

It is frustrating to suffer to a extremity for illustration that anyway, but particularly because it is thing that has happened to them before.

However, while location was disappointment connected nan day, this was still a crippled that gives United plentifulness to build on.

Of people you ever want results, but you besides want to spot immoderate advancement - particularly astatine this highly early shape of nan play - and United's show showed plentifulness of that.

Right now advancement intends nan squad getting amended and much utilized to nan manager's system, pinch nan players becoming comfortable successful their relationships connected nan pitch, and nan caller signings bedding in.

It is besides astir them putting their struggles of past play down them, and playing pinch immoderate assurance and belief.

All of that happened against Arsenal.

Although they lost, they played for illustration they thought they could win, and each squad who plays against them now is going to beryllium wary.

Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.