United will need four points from their last two matches just to equal their worst-ever points total in the Premier League era
United manager Erik ten Hag speaking with Casemiro during the Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford, Manchester. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
“Today we had to play in a really special place, our history wasn’t very optimistic about what could happen,” Arteta said. Arsenal had won only four times at Old Trafford in 31 previous Premier League visits. Yet whatever history said the bookmakers were saying that Arsenal were heavy odds-on favourites. United were an unheard-of 8/1, the betting markets judging that they had seldom been in such a sorry state.
Lest that verdict sound hyperbolic or overly harsh, consider that United will need four points from their last two matches against Newcastle and Brighton just to equal their worst-ever points total in the Premier League era. They will need to score four more goals than they concede just to match their worst-ever goal-difference performance. They have already lost more matches than in any previous Premier League season. This – genuinely – is the worst United in more than 30 years.
Ten Hag had tried to rouse those players who did show up by challenging them to deliver a performance for the fans they had let down in the 4-0 collapse at Crystal Palace. That game was chiefly memorable for an all-time defensive horrorshow by stand-in centre back Casemiro, who was dribbled past eight times and was humiliated by Michael Olise for Palace’s opening goal.
“I haven’t seen it, but what I heard was not always a success,” Ten Hag said of the idea of playing McTominay in defence. McTominay has played many times at centre back for Scotland and helped keep a clean sheet against England at Wembley in the Euro 2020 finals.
Unfortunately the currently relevant context is Manchester City, who have beaten that tally in five of the last six seasons. City will make it six of the last seven if they win either of the two games they have left. Arsenal have never before had to do battle with such a monster.
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