The Red Devils' lack of defensive depth remains the primary barrier to matching Mikel Arteta’s fortress, as elite recruitment allows the Gunners to dominate through sheer durability.
Manchester United returned to winning ways in the Premier League after beating Ipswich Town 5-2 in the Red Devils' first home game.
It was a refreshing victory of attacking fluidity and PFA Players' Player of the Year Bruno Fernandes reminding everyone of his quality.
With it being transfer deadline day, pundits and fans alike will be hoping United can bring in either the left-back, centre-back, or striker they have been crying out for. However, the club has shown all summer that they will only go for a player if it is the right price or opportunity.
Yet unlike last summer, when the club brought in Senne Lammens on deadline day, it appears more likely for outgoings to occur with Joshua Zirkzee and Harry Amass among potential names linked with a move away.
Neville wants United to follow Arsenal model
After years of Manchester City and Liverpool dominating the Premier League with possession and attacking football, Arsenal have flipped the script with a defence-dominated system to grind out teams.
Their squad-building was there for all to see in both the defence and midfield. Mikel Arteta was able to sub off his entire midfield and replace them with Bruno Guimarães, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino, who could all start for almost every other team in the league.
Manchester United are a step closer to being able to do that with a midfield of Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Mason Mount filled with quality, different profiles and depth.
However, the defence is very clearly where United cannot match Arsenal. Ezri Konsa, Piero Hincapié, Jurrien Timber, and William Saliba were all either on the bench or injured, but it is indicative of the quality they have. Almost every player has the quality to seamlessly start.
Gary Neville highlighted this strength of Arsenal and claimed this is the reason no one will catch them.
He said on the Gary Neville Podcast (quotes via CaughtOffside): “They’ve [Arsenal] already got eight amazing defenders and now they’ve signed another really good centre-half.
“It’s almost like they’re doubling down and saying, ‘We’re not going to concede goals, we’re just going to make sure we’re better than everyone else defensively by a million miles’ – and they are. That will win them a title again.
“If you were to ask if you’d swap Arsenal’s front players for United’s, Liverpool’s, Chelsea’s, you might actually keep the front players. From a defensive perspective or in midfield, you’d swap all of them.”
Is the club too narrow-minded?
This might be a strange question, but it is a trend that is clear to see. Of course, the club has had success in the window that is no doubt.
Last summer the target was three forwards and a keeper; they secured all four. This summer, the main target was three midfielders, and they secured all three.
However, this idea of being three forwards, then three midfielders, then three defenders next summer feels narrow-minded. While left-back, centre-back, and striker are issues now, and could be all season, there may be new concerns that emerge throughout the season, which could force United's hand.
While a loan move is far from ideal, the club needs bodies in defence to compete on all fronts to avoid injury crises.
