Chapter 667: Too Ruthless
Manchester United faced Arsenal in the 15th round of the Premier League—a crucial test in their quest to surpass AC Milan's record of 58 unbeaten matches in Europe's top five leagues.
Arsenal, the former holders of the Premier League's 49-match unbeaten streak, were determined to make a stand, even though United had long eclipsed their record. For Arsenal, pride was on the line, especially since their historic streak had been ended by United years ago.
After Arsène Wenger's departure at the end of the previous season, Arsenal was in a transitional phase under new manager Unai Emery. Armed with over £70 million worth of new signings and fresh tactical ideas, they were eager to reestablish themselves as a competitive force.
Although Arsenal ranked fifth in the Premier League before this match, their 9 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses showed solid form. Their losses came only against Manchester City and Chelsea, while they managed a draw against Liverpool and defeated Tottenham Hotspur.
In fact, their 4–2 comeback victory over Spurs in the North London Derby just days before gave Emery a boost of confidence. In pre-match interviews, he boldly stated that United's 54-match unbeaten run was an embarrassment to the Premier League. His intent to halt United's streak couldn't have been clearer.
Match Day at Old Trafford
On December 5th, a packed Old Trafford witnessed Manchester United host Arsenal. The pre-match buzz was heightened by Emery's provocative comments, as fans and pundits alike waited to see if he could back up his bold claims.
Before kickoff, the managers met for the customary handshake.
Mourinho took Emery's hand with exaggerated sincerity and said:
"Ah, Mr. Emery, thank you so much."
Caught off guard, Emery responded cautiously, "Thank me?"
Mourinho nodded solemnly.
"When a team goes unbeaten for so long, I worry my players might get complacent. Every game, I have to rack my brains for motivational speeches. But thanks to your comments, I didn't have to say a word this time. You've done the job for me. Thank you."
With that, Mourinho gave Emery's hand a firm shake, turned, and walked away.
Emery stood there, dumbfounded. "I just wanted to stir things up a bit. Why does it feel like I've made a huge mistake?"
The Match Begins
The highly anticipated clash featured commentary from Premier League veterans Andy Gray and Martin Tyler.
"Objectively speaking, Arsenal might have a chance to challenge United," Gray commented. "They just dominated Tottenham four days ago in the North London Derby."
"Could Arsenal create a miracle and end United's streak?" another commentator chimed in.
However, United answered all questions with an emphatic response in the 9th minute.
"Bruno Fernandes!!!"
Old Trafford erupted in cheers as Bruno unleashed a stunning long-range shot that smashed into the top corner of Arsenal's net.
"Brilliant strike! Harry Kane sets up Bruno, who breaks the deadlock early for Manchester United!"
The camera cut to Arsenal's bench, where Emery's expression darkened.
The goal came from a Rashford cross, expertly laid off by Kane. Bruno's thunderous strike left Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno rooted to the spot.
A Dominant First Half
Just 11 minutes later, United doubled their lead. Kylian Mbappé stormed down the right flank, delivering a perfect pass into the box. Kane controlled the ball, evaded a defender, and slotted it home from a tight angle.
2:0.
As Kane celebrated by high-fiving Mourinho, it was clear United were in complete control.
Arsenal managed to pull one back in the 26th minute. Lucas Torreira's corner found Shkodran Mustafi, whose header was tipped by David de Gea but still crossed the line. VAR confirmed the goal, bringing the score to 2:1.
But United's response was swift.
In the 30th minute, Bruno's free kick forced a save from Leno, but the rebound fell to Mbappé, who crossed it back into the box. Marcus Rashford pounced, scoring United's third goal.
Arsenal Crumbles
By halftime, the score remained 3:1, but Arsenal's confidence was clearly shaken.
In the second half, United showed no mercy.
In the 56th minute, Bruno's free kick found Harry Maguire, whose header extended the lead to 4:1. Mourinho began substituting players, giving rest to Kane, Mbappé, and İlkay Gündoğan while introducing Scott McTominay, Riyad Mahrez, and Juan Mata.
Arsenal's players appeared resigned. One by one, their heads dropped, while on the sidelines, Emery sat in silence. The scoreline, the substitutions, and United's dominance felt like a public humiliation.
In the 76th minute, Mahrez scored with a clinical finish after a chaotic scramble in Arsenal's box, making it 5:1.
Ten minutes later, Bruno scored his second of the match, this time with a deft strike from the edge of the box, bringing the tally to 6:1.
In stoppage time, João Cancelo delivered a pinpoint cross for McTominay, who headed home to seal a 7:1 victory.
Old Trafford roared with approval, while Arsenal suffered one of their most lopsided defeats in recent history—a reminder of their infamous 8:2 loss to United years prior.
Post-Match
After the final whistle, Mourinho walked straight to Emery, grasping his hands with mock sincerity.
"I'm terribly sorry," Mourinho said. "I'll have a word with the boys. They went too far."
Emery said nothing, his face blank as Mourinho walked away.
The 7:1 demolition was more than just a loss—it was a statement. United extended their unbeaten run to 55 matches and proved that even bold words couldn't shake their dominance.
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