Arsenal youngsters shine but the travel sickness symptoms flare up again at Manchester United

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James Olley30 April 2018

There was a nod to the past in a show of respect to Arsene Wenger but also a reminder of just how far Arsenal must travel under his successor to return to English football’s summit.

It would be remiss to draw definitive conclusions from this 90 minutes in isolation, given the Gunners had an eye on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final, second leg against Atletico Madrid and showed eight changes to the starting line-up.

United, too, were going through the motions, as they continue to convince themselves that second place is a prize worth fighting for before attempting to add a positive coda to their campaign in next month’s FA Cup Final against Chelsea. Yet it was difficult to escape the feeling both sides are struggling to emerge from their own shadows.

This was unrecognisable from the blood and thunder of peak Ferguson versus Wenger, Roy Keane versus Patrick Vieira, the best from north and south annually wrestling for pre-eminence in the pantheon of football’s finest.

Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Instead, it was one team who months ago were forced to lower their sights to finishing in second place and the solace of a possible FA Cup success versus another long destined to finish outside the top four, requiring an improbable Europa League win to reach the Champions League.

Fifteen years ago, nothing would have felt worse to United than seeing Wenger lift silverware yet here he was given an engraved vase before a ball was even kicked, briefly raising it above his head in recognition of his 22 years at Arsenal above his head to a crowd offering warm applause. It was a classy moment from United and their supporters.

“Once you’re not a danger any more, people love you,” said Wenger. That, sadly for Arsenal, has been the case for years. Ferguson’s warmth for Wenger has increased as their competitiveness has declined.

Many expected a heavy defeat and that in itself is a further indication of the Gunners’ plight. They are yet to take a point away from home in the League in 2018. It is May tomorrow.

Despite lavish expenditure and a quick turnover of managers, United are still searching for the identity in the post-Ferguson era.

​Mourinho was forced to rely on pumping the ball long to Marouane Fellaini in search of a winning goal as his team once again looked disjointed in attack.

There was not the voracious appetite to seize on a weakened Arsenal line-up, as there had been the last time they faced a Gunners team so inexperienced. That ended 8-2 on this ground in August 2011.

In its place, Arsenal grew in confidence. The flaws may run deep in this squad but the man charged with rectifying them will have been encouraged by their display here.

The bar is pretty low, admittedly, but this was one of Arsenal’s most effective away performances in the League this season.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles was unperturbed by facing a powerful and combative midfield trio comprising Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera. Reiss Nelson showed good composure on the ball, while the biggest surprise of all, debutant Konstantinos Mavropanos, belied his lack of experience to hold his own against Romelu Lukaku.

“Our young players played very good and they have a big future in this club,” said Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who swapped clubs with Alexis Sanchez in January. “They showed they deserve to play for Arsenal and I wish them luck.”

The bigger picture for Arsenal here was resting players for Thursday and avoiding the kind of damaging result that could have sapped morale, triggering self-doubt as they look to scramble into next season’s Champions League via the back door.

The Gunners achieved those aims. But those aims also underline how distant the halcyon days of fighting with United for the title now are.

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