Aubameyang's strike compounds Solksjaer's misery

 

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang ended his five match goal drought in the league with a goal that handed Arsenal their first Old Trafford win since 2006 (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal ended a 14 year wait for an Arsenal win at Old Trafford on Sunday following a penalty by Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

 

Hector Bellerin was needlessly hacked down in the box and the Gabonese striker punished Paul Pogba’s indiscretions from six yards out.

 

United have failed to win any of the first four matches at Old Trafford in the league as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost his 100th game in charge at the club.

 

Arsenal also ended their five-year wait for a Premier League away win against "Big Six" opposition. They had not enjoyed such a win in 29 games since their victory at the Etihad against Manchester City in January 2015.

 

Arsenal were by far the better team in the first half and almost took the lead after 39 minutes when a well curled Willian effort hit the post and Bukayo Saka headed wide unmarked at the tail end of the first half.

 

Both teams missed good chances after the break when Aubameyang's curling shot missed the target while Harry Maguire headed wide.

 

After 69 minutes, Pogba didn't track Bellerin's run and brought down the defender in the box. Arsenal were awarded the penalty and Aubameyang sent David De Gea the wrong way.

United almost equalised late on after Donny Van de Beek's cross was deflected off the post but the visitors came away with a much deserved victory.

"We're creating expectation. We want to beat [the other 'Big Six' teams] all the time and compete for the league with them. We will evolve and get better at other things so we can go to any ground and be competitive which is something you can call a positive," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

Solskjaer was disappointed with his team's display after the excellent 5-0 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League and did not spare Pogba from the criticism.

"He needs to stay on his feet. Paul knows it's a soft penalty to give away," said the Norwegian.

"We were too sloppy, too many passes went astray and the rotation was not there. Too many things that can go wrong in a game did for us today. Today we didn't get the response we hoped for.

"In the first half, we never turned up. The intensity, the tempo wasn't there, the shape -- they were better than us and created a couple of half-decent chances.

Arsenal’s next game is at the Emirates against Aston Villa, a team that needs to win to restore confidence after yet another loss to Southampton