Romelu Lukaku's underrated interplay and other things learned from Man United's 2-1 win over Arsenal

Matt Jones - Editor 22:23 29/04/2018
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  • Manchester United tightened their grip on a Premier League runners-up spot with a late Marouane Fellaini goal securing a 2-1 win in Arsene Wenger’s final visit to Old Trafford as Arsenal boss.

    Paul Pogba sidefooted the hosts ahead after Alexis Sanchez’s header had been blocked. But the man who replaced the Chilean at the Emirates restored parity in the second half, Henrikh Mkhitaryan marking his return to Manchester with a fine strike to make it 1-1.

    Marcus Rashford had a late goal chalked off for offside, but Fellaini won it in stoppage time when he headed in Ashley Young’s cross.

    Lukaku’s link-up play overlooked

    Romelu Lukaku was brought in during the summer for one thing – to score goals. And despite all the detractors, it’s hard to argue that he’s been anything but a roaring success.

    Twenty seven goals in 50 games in all competitions. His best tally in a single Premier League campaign. Enough said.

    What isn’t talked enough about though is the big Belgian’s prevalence for playmaking. He has recorded seven assists in the Premier League this season, which is joint sixth, alongside the likes of such crafty technicians as Willian, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

    It’s an underrated tool in the striker’s repertoire that was evident as United took the lead in eye-catching style at Old Trafford. Lukaku won’t get the credit his quality cross deserved as Pogba hooked home when Sanchez’s goal-bound header fell for him after taking a wicked deflection off Hector Bellerin.

    It adds to clever assists dotted throughout a campaign in which his lack of ball control and often comedic first touches actually bely some sumptuous skill and interplay.

    His crossing, meanwhile, has been superb. The deep, arching ball from the right flank that teed up Rashford for a consolation goal in an otherwise miserable team performance in October’s 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield was sublime – in turn highlighting why his diligent runs into the channels have been such a welcome change from the static play offered by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    Romelu Lukaku has the joint sixth most assists in the Premier League.

    Romelu Lukaku has the joint sixth most assists in the Premier League.

    Herrera’s form leaves a question mark over constant substitutions

    Ander Herrera finished the game with the fourth-most passes of all players on the pitch and third-highest pass accuracy – he was taken off with 26 minutes remaining.

    Jose Mourinho will escape criticism because his replacement in midfield, Fellaini, grabbed the winning goal the hosts just about deserved.

    The 2016/17 United player of the season’s absence this term has been baffling, although largely explained by Nemanja Matic’s summer arrival and subsequent seamless transition into United’s midfield.

    Pogba’s patchy form and Mourinho’s constant tinkering with the midfield in order to try and fit the Frenchman in and get the best out of his star has been frustrating for United fans to watch. And it’s been to the detriment of the combative Spaniard’s game time.

    He’s been thrust into the limelight of late, returning to both feature and form in United’s last six games.

    But like compatriot Juan Mata, he is often the first player brought off. That thinking with Mata is more understandable; he’s not incredibly blessed with pace or stamina, while he is sacrificed when Mourinho wants to speed up his attack.

    But Herrera is a bundle of energy and has upped his attacking contribution – the one part of his game that has been sorely lacking this season – since returning to favour.

    Ander Herrera was taken off early again against Arsenal.

    Ander Herrera was taken off early again against Arsenal.

    Wenger leaving a better legacy than perhaps expected

    The words ‘Arsene Wenger’ and ‘youth development’ used to reap huge reward during the Frenchman’s early, sunnier days at Arsenal.

    But whereas the next generation has floundered rather than flourished in his twilight years at the club, there was enough evidence here of some young talents at the Emirates worth developing by his successor.

    The last time Wenger overloaded his starting 11 with promising youngsters on a visit to Old Trafford, Arsenal suffered arguably the most humiliating result in the Frenchman’s two decade-long tenure, trounced 8-2.

    Carl Jenkinson looked hopelessly out of his depth that day and was sent off. Armand Traore never played for the Gunners again and now can’t get a game at Championship Cardiff City, where he is on loan from Nottingham Forest.

    Many would argue Francis Coquelin – now at Valencia – has barely progressed while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who made his debut off the bench that fateful day, is now flourishing at Liverpool, having failed to progress under Wenger.

    So when four of the names on the teamsheet showed ages of 21, 20, 20 and 18, there were more than a few eyebrows raised.

    But they more than held their own. Konstantinos Mavropanos performed admirably in the heart of the visiting defence, Ainsley Maitland-Niles continued to show flashes of his promise, while Reiss Nelson had a pass accuracy percentage of 95 2.

    Wenger may be leaving but Arsenal could be due a return on their promising youth.

    Ainsley Maitland-Niles was one of four youngsters named in Arsenal's starting 11.

    Ainsley Maitland-Niles was one of four youngsters named in Arsenal’s starting 11.

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