Arsenal's trip to Old Trafford took on extra importance this season as a win could've put them in with a decent shout of the Premier League title.
As the full-time whistle blew the Gunners were instead left staring at a 3-2 defeat and their title hopes fading away. Mathematically it is still possible as third-placed Arsenal are only five points behind leaders Leicester but the way things are going at the moment it feels like more doom than hope at this moment in time.
Next week's North London Derby clash with Spurs, who sit above us in second, really could be make or break for our title bid. Win it and you never know, but lose it and our chances will be nearly over. All derby clashes with Spurs are crucial but this one is even more important and the players will need to bounce back from the Old Trafford defeat and put in a performance to remember.
The result at Manchester United wasn't the hardest thing to take about the game, but more the manner of the defeat. We always knew facing one of the world's best goalkeepers, in David De Gea, was going to be tough but we barely made him even break a sweat. The lack of times we tested the goalkeeper was definitely the most disappointing factor of the game for me as we need to do a lot better at making the most of our good attacking play.
This wasn't one of the top class Manchester United squads of old we were facing and they didn't trouble our goalkeeper, Petr Cech, too much either but we simply just weren't good enough on the day.
We did actually start fairly well and had a big chance to take the lead after just seven minutes when Mesut Ozil set up Nacho Monreal in the box. Maybe not the ideal player you would want the chance to fall too and the left-back's effort was well kept out by De Gea.
Marcus Rashford then became the star of the show with two goals in three minutes, although the first of them was gifted to him by a poor defensive mistake. Shortly before the half hour mark Guillermo Varela's cross wasn't cleared properly as Gabriel slipped, allowing Rashford to fire home from close range.
The 18-year-old definitely looks like a hot prospect for the future and continued to show no fear as he added a second by heading home Jesse Lingaard's cross.
It looked as if Arsenal were doomed at this point but former United striker Danny Welbeck gave the visitors a glimmer of a hope as he headed in Ozil's cross five minutes before the break.
With Arsenal now back in the game I was hoping we would show a lot more urgency in the second half but we were still not creating many chances. That cost us dearly as United scored a third goal after 65 minutes and, even though it was a cruel deflection that increased their lead, we only had ourselves to blame. Rashford burst into the box before picking out Ander Herrera whose shot took a big deflection off Laurent Koscielny to wrongfoot Cech. It was a massive slice of luck in United's favour but we hadn't exactly created much prior to that goal.
Arsenal reduced the deficit to 3-2 through Ozil just four minutes later. Welbeck forced a save out of De Gea but Ozil was on hand to volley in from the rebound.
With just over 20 minutes remaining it seemed like maybe Arsenal might be able to get something out of the game after all. Instead, the Gunners nearly saw a man sent off following an altercation between Aaron Ramsey and Herrera. Herrera's challenge on Ramsey was very poor but, equally, the Welshman's daft reaction was completely unnecessary and both players were shown a yellow card.
There were a few half chances before the end but Arsenal failed to force De Gea into any serious saves in what could prove to be a huge three points dropped in the Gunners' title challenge.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Manchester United fan Mark Hainsworth was in upbeat mood after what he felt had been an "exciting display" from his side.
"Now that was a Manchester United performance, fast direct football and GOALS; at both ends," said Hainsworth.
"LVG has deservedly received criticism for some of the sterile performances his team has delivered so he deserves credit when his young team puts in such an exciting display in what is always a big match.
"Will the manager stick with these players when injured regular players are fit again? I hope so because they played with no fear.
"Maybe something can be salvaged from this season with a top 4 finish and two cup competitions to play for."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
I genuinely feel this next week will be make or break for us and determine just how serious we are about the Premier League title. With games against Swansea and rivals Tottenham next on the horizon we really need to be aiming for a maximum six-point haul. That will be very difficult but then so is winning the Premier League and we have to prove we mean business, or risk falling further down the pecking order.
If we can beat Swansea and West Ham can beat Spurs then it will put us back level on points with our North London rivals. If we can then get an unlikely win at White Hart Lane then who knows, but that is a very tough ask.
No matter what happens in terms of result we need to show a lot more hunger and desire in the next two games, start converting our chances better and prove what a good team we can be. We need to up our game quickly! It needs to happen now!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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