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Manchester United looked like no more than a 'rich man's West Brom’

Football is a game of fine margins, and when you are on the losing side it is painful. I spent the whole Arsenal game on the edge of my sofa, or with my head in my hands. Every time the ball came near the goal, De Gea produced another agonising save, using every part of his body available to him.

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I have spent much of my time as a blogger blaming Wenger for poor performances. But this week, it is simply bad luck that is at fault.

Arsenal did everything right; Sanchez, Lacazette and Ozil combining to produce slick passages of football that deserved an end product. But some supernatural force repelled the ball from the goal line time and time again, subjecting fans in the Emirates Stadium to the most frustrating of fixtures.

The 'Special One' is no stranger to causing frustration. If Jose Mourinho was universally disliked before this game, he did nothing to gain favour.

All men back, lob it upfield for some pacy strikers to steal a goal. This was how Leicester won the league, and if Manchester United had recently avoided relegation, I would be impressed.

But when they have greater resources than almost any other team in the world, fielding some of the most expensive players ever, I would expect more than a style of football popularised by Tony Pulis at Stoke City.

Big players to bully defenders, long balls and dirty tactics from the likes of Paul Pogba, all combined to support a TalkSport listeners comment that Manchester United are no more than a 'rich man's West Brom’.

Arsenal fans must not despair. Glimmers of hope were clearly visible on Saturday evening. There is a visible improvement from last season and, although Manchester City are out of sight, the gap is widening between us and our north London rivals, and a serious top four challenge seems inevitable.

If this kind of fervour can be preserved for the months to come, fans can look forward to an exciting Christmas period followed by a tense end to the season.

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