Our perfect start to the season has come to a crushing defeat following a 3-1 defeat to our arch-rivals, The Red Devils. It was an intense match with both teams eagre to get on the scoresheet. We were about to get ahead after Martinelli's shot found the net but V.A.R ruled the goal off as it was from a play following a challenge by Martin Odegaard on Christian Eriksen.
After a couple of minutes, Manchester United edged forward after Antony, scored a marvelous goal, scoring on his debut. We got back into the match in the second half, with Saka's shot roaring past De Gea. However, a few minutes later, Marcus Rashford put United in front once again after zooming past our players like the Flash and finishing the run off with a marvelous shot on goal.
He wasn't done yet as he once again caught our defence sleeping, with Christian Eriksen providing a simple assist to him before thrashing the ball past a dazed Aaron Ramsdale. At some point in the match, Fabio Vieira was subbed on in the match, getting his first taste of Premier League football, replacing Albert Sambi Lokonga, but it wasn't quite the debut he had hoped for as in Antony's case.
We are still top of the table after this result but with City and Tottenham just one point behind us and United climbing up to 5th with 12 Points, the joy ride of being on top might have just come to an end for the boyz. We have a somewhat favourable next match against Everton at home next Sunday but being that Thursday Night Football returns this Thursday as we head to Stadion Letzigrund to face FC Zurich in our opening fixture of The Europa League, it might not be such a favourable fixture as we might expect.
However, this result shouldn't deter our belief in the boyz and we should still remain strongly supportive to them. I mean, it is our only L of the season so far and we really should cut them some slack. We were in Old Trafford, the same place a few years back where we were humbled to a 8-2 defeat to United, so trust me when I say that it could have been much worse. Hats off to United though, Antony getting a dream perfect start to his United Career and a Rashford double is now honestly making me want to put him in my F.P.L Squad.
Rashford and United tore through our weaknesses, mainly in the midfield sector and this highlights just how much we are still in need of squad depth. With Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny injured, our main weakness still remains the midfield and honestly, Sambi and Vieira aren't quite ready enough for the intense competition that is The Premier League, the latter still being only 22 years old and from The Primeira Liga, hence in need of much-needed P.L experience. However, with the brief cameo he made against United today, it is quite safe to say that we just might have an absolute baller in our hands.
We really need to quickly bounce back, especially in the next four matches before we head on to a nightmare set of fixtures in October;
1st October 2022 - A home P.L North London Derby against a very spirited Tottenham under Mr. Conte
6th October 2022 - A home Europa League Group match against FK Bodo/Glimt
9th October 2022 - A home P.L fixture against Liverpool F.C (Jota is still a pain in our asses fr)
13th October 2022 - An away Europa League Group match against FK Bodo/Glimt at Aspmyra Stadion, Norway
16th October 2022 - An away P.L fixture against Leeds at Elland Road
19th October 2022 - A home P.L fixture against current P.L Champions, Man. City (Haaland! Haaland!)
23rd October 2022 - An away P.L Fixture against Southampton at ST. Mary's Stadium
27th October 2022 - An away Europa League Group match against PSV Eindhoven at Philips Stadion, Netherlands
30th October 2022 - A home P.L Fixture against Nottingham Forest
Talk about Nightmare October. 9 Key Matches in October that will definitely determine how we thrive in the 22/23 season, both in the P.L and Europa League. I am still confident in the boyz, bar the injuries, we have a squad that is still capable of fighting for a trophy this season. Bring on Everton on Sunday. No time to dampen our fighting spirit boyz following the L.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!
Kindly enjoy the 15 minutes of joy we had with Vieira on the pitch..