JAKARTA - Manchester United is back. After beating Manchester City in the English Premier League, Arsenal became the next victim. In the big match at the Emirates Stadium, Sunday, January 25, 2026 WIB, Man Utd defeated Arsenal 3-2. The second victory achieved by interim manager Michael Carrick immediately damaged the competition map at the top.
Carrick's brilliant start even though he was only appointed as interim manager when replacing Ruben Amorim. In Carrick's hands, the former Man Utd pillar when he achieved glory with Sir Alex Ferguson, the team that was in disarray when Amorim left was able to rise.
Even though he immediately faced a tough test by meeting two top teams, Carrick showed his ability in strategy duels. How not, Carrick faced two strategy masters, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
Guardiola has proven by delivering Barcelona and Bayern Munich to success. Likewise, when handling Man City, Guardiola won various trophies. Including four consecutive Premier League champions and bringing the Cityzens to a treble while matching Man Utd's record.
However, Guardiola did not flinch in the face of Man Utd's tactical and efficient game. Even though they were completely superior in ball possession, the goal of the Italian national team goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could be broken five times. Only three goals were annulled and Man Utd won 2-0.
When facing Arsenal at home, who would have thought Carrick would put Bryan Mbeumo as a 'false nine' and bench striker Benjamin Sesko. Even Matheus Cunha was a substitute because Bruno Fernandes was the starter with Patrick Dorgu and Amad Diallo.
However, Man Utd started the match by conceding first due to a suicide goal by defender Lisandro Martinez in the 29th minute. In Amorim's era when the team had conceded, they seemed to find it difficult to catch up with the goal. Moreover, this is due to a suicide goal that can affect the mental of the players. At best, Man Utd usually ends the match with a draw when they are behind more.
But a change under Carrick. Man Utd still played solid and fight. After Mbeumo answered Carrick's trust by taking advantage of Martin Zubimendi's blunder to equalize the score, then Dorgu scored a beautiful goal with a long-range shot that brought Man Utd back to a 2-1 lead in the 50th minute.
Arsenal actually had the chance to avoid defeat after Mikel Merino scored the equalizer to make it 2-2 in the 84th minute. The goal started from a mess in front of the goal and goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to anticipate Merino's wild ball. The ball was already over the goal line when the Man Utd player threw it away.
Only three minutes later, Cunha who replaced Mbeumo even scored the goal that determined the Red Devils' victory. Through a long-range kick, Cunha broke into David Raya's goal. The Gunners' deadly goal was created towards the end of the match.
The score changed 3-2 and Man Utd tried desperately to maintain the lead until the end of the match.
"It's a very painful result," Arteta said in response to Arsenal's defeat. "Now is the time to stay close to the players who have given us happiness and continue to support them because we really want to win," he said again.
Meanwhile, Carrick showed his satisfaction with the victory at Arsenal's home. "The players were fantastic when they faced the game and how they wanted to do it [to score]. The main thing is how we give them the opportunity and how to behave. I put my trust in them and I try to show it," said Carrick.
Yes, Carrick returned to Old Trafford when the players still had not accepted the decision to sack Amorim. Even rumors circulated that Fernandes would soon decide to leave at the end of this season. However, Carrick was immediately able to restore the players' confidence and motivation.
"There's not much to say. It's easy to say something to a player or talk about a game to a player. But how to feel it, that's the important thing. You have to feel confident and sure. They have to believe they can do it and we have to be able to maintain that confidence," said Carrick.
Carrick is like inheriting his mentor, Ferguson, who is able to raise the mentality and grow the confidence of the players. He makes non-technical factors more stable.
Not only that, Carrick also changed the map of competition at the top. Now, Man Utd has managed to break into the Champions League zone by ranking fourth after collecting 38 points. They displaced Chelsea and Liverpool.
Arsenal themselves are still in first place with 50 points. However, Arsenal, who suffered their first defeat after 13 matches in various competitions, must be alert.
Now they are only four points ahead of Man City and Aston Villa who are in third and fourth place. Man City cut the point gap after winning 2-0 over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Likewise, Villa who defeated Newcastle United 2-0. The competition is getting hotter and Arsenal is starting to count because the ambition to win the league title after 2004 could fail again.
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