Only the most optimistic of Reds fans looked at this game and expected a victory. Against an Arsenal side going for the league, with aching limbs left over from Thursday night and nine home grown players in the matchday eighteen, many would have settled for a draw. United's players didn't though and, in a thrilling match, they produced probably the best result of the season. Once again, it was a game in which the name of Marcus Rashford took a starring role.
United's makeshift defence had looked a little vulnerable in the early stages, with Varela and Carrick both picking up yellow cards and De Gea forced to make a point-blank stop to deny Monreal. Then the Marcus Rashford show picked up from where it left on Thursday. The kind of United passing move in the last third of the field we've seen all too seldom this season saw the youngster open the scoring when he pounced on a defensive error from Monreal, before his neatly placed header beyond Cech made it two only three minutes later.
United had then looked comfortable against a clearly shellshocked Arsenal, but another United youth product intervened six minutes before half-time, Danny Welbeck getting his head to Ozil's free kick to halve the Reds' lead. If we assumed this would lead to a turnaround after half time, we were wrong. In the second half Rashford found himself on the right and, seeing Ander Herrara advancing through the middle, set him up for the Basque to send a deflected shot behind Cech.
Arsenal came back again reduced the lead when Ozil followed up to score after De Gea had again done well to deny Welbeck. From there it was a matter of soaking up Arsenal pressure and seeing the game out. With Fosu-Mensah and Weir both making their debuts from the bench, it was an even less experienced United side that saw the game out. but see it out they did.
It was understandable that some would raise questions about a potential turning point in United's season following those FA Cup and Europa League games against unconvincing opposition. Here, however, the Reds were up against genuine title contenders and a mix of character, spirit and youthful endeavour saw them send the Old Trafford crowd home happier, surely, than they've been all season.
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