United held to draw at home to Arsenal

Daniel James attempts to get a cross past Sokratis
(Photo: Getty Images)

Manchester United fell to their worst start to a league season for 30 years on Monday night, as a 1-1 draw with Arsenal left them on nine points from their first seven matches. The last time United managed so few points to begin a campaign, Sir Alex Ferguson was still yet to win a trophy as manager and the team finished the season in 13th place.

Again, Wales' Daniel James played all 90 minutes and looked lively, earning an early free kick for which Calum Chambers was booked, but Scott McTominay's long-range effort proved to be United's only goal of the game, making it eight games in a row that the Red Devils have now failed to find the net for a second time.
United were buoyed by the return of Marcus Rashford from a groin problem, but the striker - essentially the club's main goalscorer since the departure of Romelu Lukaku in the summer - has only found the net once from open play so far this season. Mason Greenwood also made a 15-minute cameo, but he too was unable to find the perfect present ahead of his 18th birthday on Tuesday.

Arsenal's equaliser, courtesy of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, was originally ruled out for offside, but a VAR review confirmed that he had been played on by the world's most expensive centre-back, Harry Maguire.

Matches between Arsenal and Manchester United used to be must-see games in the Premier League, but with this fixture consigned to a Monday night, those days are long gone. Old Trafford is still the largest stadium in the country, but the attendance of 73,201 was Manchester United's lowest for a home league game since the ground was expanded in 2006. A Monday night it may be, but it's a symptom of a worsening problem in M16 - one that begins with the quality of football on show.

Juventus' Mario Mandzukic is believed to be a major target for Ole Gunnar Solskjær in January, a sign that he is aware of the team's problems in front of goal and attempting to remedy them, but the opening of the transfer window is still three months away, by which time it may be a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.

A Europa League tie at AZ on Thursday and a trip to struggling Newcastle on Sunday await Solskjær's side this week ahead of the international break, but with the visit of Liverpool looming immediately afterwards - a fixture that spelled the end of his predecessor Jose Mourinho's tenure at Old Trafford - all eyes will be on Solskjær and his ever-warming hotseat.

Manchester United's youth teams were also in action this weekend. Goals from James Garner and Largie Ramazani gave the under-23s another win at home to Norwich on Friday night, but Wales midfielder Dylan Levitt was again absent due to injury; he is expected back after the international break. Meanwhile, Wales' Iestyn Hughes and Charlie Savage both came off the bench as the under-18s played out a 4-4 draw at home to Leicester.