Arsenal were unable to break Manchester United down in a 0-0 stalemate at the Emirates on Saturday night. Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe came closest to securing all three points for Mikel Arteta's men but in the end, it wasn't meant to be as the Gunners made it seven games unbeaten in the Premier League.
Positives
Keeping it on the deck is the best route forward for Arsenal who, when able to string a selection of quick passes together, looked really impressive. There was clear patience in their game and instead of fading late on, they looked the more aggressive of the two teams and actually fought for every single ball -- which is so often a rarity for them.
Negatives
While the build-up play is regularly quite attractive, the final pass or shot tends to fall short, and a lot of that comes down to communication. They have a lot of star power but they need to harness that in a way that gives the squad more chemistry, especially when you see some of their lapses in concentration in possession.
Manager rating out of 10
7 -- With the team they had available to them, Arteta went with a positive and attacking side that were more than capable of giving Manchester United problems. The main issue seems to be some of the manager's decision making with his substitutions, but if he starts to trust in his tactics without as much experimentation, the future should be bright for the Gunners under his guidance.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Bernd Leno, 7 -- Outside of a perfectly timed save from Fred's curled effort, Leno wasn't often tested and looked composed throughout.
DF Hector Bellerin, 5 -- It's obvious to see that he isn't able to reach the sort of speeds he used to down the flanks, and in place of that, he's developed an inability to track back and prevent crosses from coming into the box.
DF Rob Holding, 6 -- He may not be the most stylish defender in the world, but Holding covers his fellow defenders well and has great instincts in his own defensive work.
DF David Luiz, 7 -- Up against Bruno Fernandes, Luiz got the job done and made some vital clearances in the second-half to earn an important point.
DF Cedric Soares, 6 -- His confidence in body-checking attackers and making overlapping runs was strong, although he has a tendency to be caught out of position.
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- ESPN+ viewer's guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more
MF Thomas Partey, 5 -- Partey's control of the game in the middle of the park is impressive, and yet his deliveries were quite sloppy tonight in North London.
MF Granit Xhaka, 6 -- Closed down the opposition and protected the ball on a frequent basis in what can be described as a consistent night at the office.
AMF Nicolas Pepe, 7 -- The relentless chasing after the ball, running after defenders and getting into good positions helped to highlight why Pepe is such a commodity.
AMF Emile Smith Rowe, 6 -- Skipped through the midfield in a few impressive passages of play that just weren't regular enough for the hosts.
AMF Gabriel Martinelli, 6 -- Between great creativity and wonderful efficiency in tracking back, it's a mystery as to why Martinelli was taken off at half time.
FW Alexandre Lacazette, 6 -- He clearly has more confidence in his striking ability after a few goals in recent weeks, although he went missing prior to striking the bar with a nice 65th minute free kick.
Substitutes
AMF Willian, 5 -- While his link up play was decent, the Brazilian's hesitation caused him to miss a huge chance in the 46th minute.
AMF Martin Odegaard, N/A -- Wasn't given much time to shine but seemed hungry to get involved and read the pattern of the game.
FW Eddie Nketiah, N/A -- Barely got a sniff after being introduced as a late replacement for the injured Lacazette.