Arsenal keep title date with Manchester (City) by win against Manchester (United)

It had to be the first double win in the Premier League against Manchester United since 2006-07. Tony Blair was about to pass on the baton at 10 Downing Street to Gordon Brown. Manmohan Singh was in the third year of his first term as PM here. Chak De! India and Om Shanti Om were waiting in the wings to become the biggest grossers at the box office that year.

Much more importantly, in the January return game at the Emirates that year, Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry came up from a Patrice Elva-driven 0-1 deficit to win the encounter.

On Sunday night, though, it was a Leonardo Trossard strike off a Kai Havertz pass in the face of a meh Man U defence that kept the aspidistra flying for the Gunners. In a match that was far more even-steven than the punters had made it out to be, Mikel Arteta’s men fought off some spirited play – and stretches of lapses – to win a must-win game.

It wasn’t so much Arsenal’s momentum or gravitational tug of their 1-3 win against the Red Unhorned Devils at the Emirates last September that led to the final scoreline. It was some brilliant defending – Arsenal’s signature tune this season – especially from the ‘Work like an Egyptian’ William Saliba that sealed the envelope.

By bringing in Antony in the 70th minute, Erik ten Hag did inject some second half adrenaline in a game that seemed indelicately poised. But the likes of Havertz and Trossard, with Saka doing his turns, kept the squirrel from escaping the box.

Between the 10th minute and the 20th in the first half, and the last 20-odd minutes of the second, the hosts seemed more dangerous than they have been this season. Or, if not dangerous, capable. Flanks were left loose for them to make forays – and an Antony run in the 72th min in the centre circle was evidence of Arsenal letting vacuum spread on the field. Luckily, for the Gunners, the Man U rightwinger didn’t opt for his left or right passing options and reached the edge of the Arsenal box only for David Raya to collect, wicketkeeper style.

Arsenal comes out of this fixture once again top of the table – coming up to surface Apocalypse Postponed (rather than Now) style. The Manchester Machine – by which one, of course, means City – still has the advantage with its demolition derby ways up for display on Tuesday night against Arsenal’s fellow citizens, Tottenham Hotspur. But with Sunday night’s win, gently marinated by a Manchester downpour towards the end, Arsenal has managed to not take the detour. It’s still on the highway to the title.