On a night when Old Trafford’s concourse caterers went down, Manchester United made an undeniable hash of what had appeared an easy cruise to victory over Middlesbrough.
It was a moment that made all of Chelsea’s problems fade away. Suddenly, nobody was worrying about a draining fixture list and a worrying run of results.
One can only hope the Arteta residence has thick walls. Arsenal’s manager, who had said he would “need a big room” before watching this fixture from home, must have been clawing at them after an unruly, fractious affair his players deserved to win.
Manchester City are taking flight precisely when required. This seventh consecutive Premier League victory stretched their lead at the top to four points – Liverpool have played a game fewer – and took Pep Guardiola past the 500 goal mark: 502 to be exact in a record time of 207 games.
It must have felt peculiar at full time for Manchester City, as they left the pitch without the full complement of points in a Premier League game for the first time since October.
Manchester City were ruthless, fell asleep, and then awoke to end finally a Leicester resistance that came in a sparkling second-half riposte to the champions, who were 4-0 up at the break.
Manchester United engaged in a hard-fought contest against Dean Smith's Norwich City side in what was Ralf Rangnick's first away game as Red Devils interim boss.
This wildly entertaining contest was a good advert for playing on. Although Leeds United resembled the walking wounded at times, they have set the standard for the rest of the Premier League to follow.
The Premier League show staggers on and, amid a decimated schedule, Arsenal stole it to strengthen their hold on fourth place.
This time there was to be no rescue act, no papering over of the cracks. Deploy any pejorative you wish and it would probably fit: Manchester United were dire, derelict, dreadful and, by the end, thoroughly demeaned.
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