Arsenal: With Arsene Wenger & Without - Will They Ever Return to Their Former Glory?
Arsenal, led by Arsene Wenger, is a major English football club with 13 league titles and 14 FA Cups
08 October 2024
What was billed as an exciting Premier League clash turned out to be a dull affair, as Manchester United and Aston Villa played out a goalless draw at Villa Park. Both teams struggled to find any real rhythm or quality in the final third, leaving fans and managers alike frustrated. In the end, Manchester United held on for the clean sheet but extended their disappointing start to the season.
Erik ten Hag's side now finds themselves with just eight points from their first seven Premier League games, sitting in 14th place heading into the international break. For United, Bruno Fernandes came closest to breaking the deadlock, hitting the crossbar with a curling free-kick in what was one of the game’s few moments of real quality. On the other side, Aston Villa had their best chance late on when Jaden Philogene’s goal-bound effort was blocked by Diogo Dalot.
Despite the clean sheet, Manchester United's defensive issues were still evident. Ten Hag made the surprising decision to start with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans in central defense, leaving first-choice pairing Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez on the bench. Maguire, however, was forced off at halftime with an injury, and while United did secure their first clean sheet in four matches, the draw highlighted their inability to dominate games in attack or defense.
The first half was uninspiring, with both teams managing only two shots on target. Marcus Rashford had the brightest moment for United, cutting inside and testing Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez with a routine save. For Aston Villa, Morgan Rogers was the most threatening player, finding space to drive at United's defense but failing to create any clear-cut chances.
In the second half, Fernandes nearly gave United the lead, hitting the crossbar with a brilliant free-kick from 25 yards out. Rashford was also denied a second chance to score by Martinez after a similar move to his earlier effort. Villa nearly stole the win in added time, but Philogene’s shot was blocked by Dalot following a defensive lapse by United substitute Matthijs de Ligt.
Aston Villa, despite the draw, will be disappointed not to have found the back of the net for the first time in eight matches across all competitions. However, they remain unbeaten in five Premier League games and head into the international break just outside the top four on goal difference. Unai Emery’s side will also be concerned about the hamstring injury to Ezri Konsa, who was forced off early in the match.
For Manchester United, this result leaves them with more questions than answers as they continue to struggle for consistency in both defense and attack.
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