Would an Old Trafford crowd put up with Man United's home woes as Arsenal end away hoodoo?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the only goal (Paul Ellis/PA)

Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1

One of the most celebrated fixtures in English football failed to deliver the entertainment and drama that it has so many times through the years but that mattered not in the slightest for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

For the first time since January 2015, Arsenal recorded a victory at one of the self-styled “Big Six” after a horrendous error by Paul Pogba and a penalty conversion from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

That sequence had lasted for 29 games although the more philosophical point it raised, of course, is whether United even deserve to be considered among the big six of anything, apart from in their name and ability to generate cash, of course.

This was another of those frustrating nights under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in which recent progress gave way to old habits and disappointment. The likeable Norwegian can never - and probably never will - do any wrong in these parts but it is doubtful whether crowds of 75,000 would be putting up with this current home form.

For the fourth time this season, the sixth in total dating back to the summer of Project Restart, United failed to win a home league game. You have to go back to 1972-73 for a start to a season in which the Reds have failed to win any of their first four home league matches.

United’s defensive problems have been front and centre during that run and on Sunday, midfielder Pogba got in on the act, sliding in carelessly to clip Hector Bellerin on the ankle after 67 minutes.

Aubameyang was without a league goal in five games, his worst run since he was with Borussia Dortmund six years ago, but there was no lack of confidence in his finish, into the bottom right-hand corner.

It was the fifth penalty United have conceded in their last seven home league games - before that run, they had conceded five in 101, a statistic that sums up the morass in which they currently find themselves.

But this - unlike losses to Crystal Palace and Tottenham - was not a defeat to lay at the feet of Solskjaer’s defenders. His much-vaunted forward line hardly acquitted themselves with glory.

A sumptuous Marcus Rashford pass played in Mason Greenwood midway through the first half and Bernd Leno saved well from him with his legs.

Harry Maguire headed a Luke Shaw free-kick back across goal and beyond the far post and, in a frantic late charge that produced little tangible, at least substitute Donny van de Beek struck a post, via a defensive touch from Mohamed Elneny.

A strike force which was correctly lauded for recent improvements in wins at PSG, Newcastle and against Leipzig was simply nullified by Arteta’s well-organised and disciplined tactical approach.

And having set up a team capable of soaking up everything United could throw at them, the Gunners looked by far the more dangerous of the two sides on the counter-attack.

The warning signs were there from the 14th minute when the lively Willian played in Bellerin whose far-post cross was almost turned in by the slide of Aubameyang.

Alexandre Lacazette miskicked in front of goal, having been put off by Victory Lindelof, Willian clipped the bar after a brilliant one-two with Aubameyang, and Bukayo Saka missed a glorious headed chance before the break.

It was impressive stuff from an Arsenal side that had not won at this stadium for 14 years or kept a clean sheet here in 11.

And after the restart, Arsenal repeated the formula, soaking up United’s possession and threatening with their speedy counters - Aubameyang shooting just wide after Fred was caught by Lacazette and impressive Thomas Partey stinging David de Gea’s hands from 20 yards.

“Where do you want me to start?” said United legend Roy Keane from the commentary booth. “We keep talking about whether they’ve turned a corner but it must be the longest corner ever.

“This is when you look for your leaders, your characters and I don’t see any leaders out there, right through the whole team. I’m really, really worried for United, there is a real lack of quality. It is a long way back for this club.” 

Manchester United (4-3-1-2): De Gea 6; Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof 7, Maguire 7, Shaw 6; Fred 6 (Matic 62, 6), McTominay 8, Pogba 5; Fernandes 7 (van de Beek 75, 6); Rashford 7, Greenwood 6 (Cavani 74, 6). 

Subs (not used): Henderson, Mata, Matic, Williams, Tuanzebe.

Arsenal (3-4-3): Leno 6; Holding 6, Gabriel 6, Tierney 7; Bellerin 7, Elneny 7, Partey *, Saka 7; Willian 7 (Maitland-Niles 85), Lacazette 6 (Nketiah 76, 6), Aubameyang 7 (Mustafi 86). 

Subs (not used): Runarsson, Ceballos, Pepe, Xhaka.

Referee: M Dean 6.