Arsenal fans see red as naive Gunners choke against Man U
Groundhog Day for Arsenal at the Emirates as one angry fan throws red wine at Man United bench
Arsenal lived up to all of their stereotypes on Saturday, with even the fans joining in, as they conspired to lose to Manchester United at the Emirates, a result that condemns the Gunners to their worst start to a season for 32 years.
Arsene Wenger's side dominated possession but failed to find a way past an inspired David de Gea in the United goal and were undone, once again, by a breakaway goal that highlighted the team's tactical shortcomings.
Elsewhere, Jack Wilshere rolled his ankle, there were signs of anti-Wenger dissent in the stands and one disgruntled north Londoner even threw a glass of red wine at the Man United bench after Kieran Gibbs put the visitors ahead with an own goal.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
United may lodge a complaint about the incident involving the wine. A supporter was arrested at the Emirates in the aftermath of an "angry exchange between some of the club's substitutes and fans in the seats behind them", according to The Guardian.
"There has long been the feeling at United that their staff and substitutes lack proper protection at the Emirates as the visiting dugout seats are out in the open," adds the paper, which describes the incident as "sour grapes", while the Daily Telegraph says that the fan in question "saw red" after the goal.
There is no room for puns in The Times, just disbelief at the way the Gunners "have taken their gaucheness to another level" this season. Lamenting the side's "kamikaze approach" Matt Hughes says that "Arsenal's preferred method of self-destruction is becoming even more hackneyed than the Groundhog Day cliches used to describe it".
He points out that Arsenal do not have a league win against a club outside the bottom seven this season. Already the campaign "feels as if it is on the brink of disintegration one third of the way through the campaign", he says. "The problems experienced by Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and even United, as well as the odd Champions League win, have helped to disguise Arsenal's shortcomings, which are severe."
There was another significant incident in the crowd on Saturday when stewards confiscated a 'Wenger out' banner from a fan. It was "symbolic of a definite split that has opened in the Arsenal fan base", reports Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph.
"Many remain protective of [Wenger] and sensitive to any perceived disrespect but even the greatest loyalists will be feeling more pessimism than ever at how it all may end."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man Utd win the Carabao Cup: how Erik ten Hag has ‘transformed’ the Red Devils
feature United lifted their first silverware since 2017 after beating Newcastle at Wembley
By Mike Starling Published
-
Pros and cons of VAR in football
Pros and Cons String of mistakes has put new technology under the microscope
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Can Arsenal really win the Premier League title?
feature How the pundits reacted after the Gunners’ late 3-2 victory over Man Utd
By Mike Starling Published