Manchester United's perfect pre-season record continues after they defeated Arsenal convincingly in a 2-0 result at the MetLife stadium.
Beyond the result itself, there were several positives for United fans and boss Erik Ten Hag to take from this result. Goals from captain Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho were enough to seal the deal in normal time, followed by a victory on penalties.
In front of a sell-out crowd of Arsenal and United fans in New York, Ten Hag's side made proceedings uncomfortable for the Gunners with their pressing and front foot approach. The players themselves garnered much praise for their performance.
There was one who stood out however, 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who started the game and dazzled in midfield against Arsenal.A compilation produced by a United fan has gone viral on Twitter, showcasing the vast array of his talents as a midfielder. It is almost as though the club has found their own young version of Frenkie de Jong, a long-standing target for the club.
Mainoo's awareness and intelligence to drop deep, receive under pressure and turn into space behind is highly encouraging to watch. Not only this, his composure and ability with regards to passing was impressive as well. His influence was felt all over the pitch and he played a major role in both goals.
Firstly, receiving the ball from a well-placed goal-kick high up the pitch by Tom Heaton, and then spinning away from pressure to lay the ball off to Fernandes who scored from distance.For Sancho's goal, it was Mainoo's lofted clearance under pressure that bounced awkwardly in front of the Arsenal defenders, allowing Sancho to swoop in behind with pace and precision to blast the ball past Aaron Ramsdale in goal.
No doubt Mainoo's talents are considerable and with the way their pre-season has gone, Mainoo's display against Leeds and now against Gunners only make it all the more reasonable for him to get regular minutes during the season.
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