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2026.01.27

'Another unbelievable result' - but what's different about Man Utd now?

“又一场不可思议的胜利”—— 但如今的曼联，究竟有了哪些改变？

Sunday's win at Arsenal was another unbelievable result for Manchester United and I was hugely impressed with the way they got it.

Just like in last weekend's Manchester derby, ultimately this victory came down to the fact that their big players are turning up for them now. For example, when you go down the spine of the United team at Emirates Stadium, they all looked like the players we know they are.

Harry Maguire was brilliant at the back, then you had Casemiro in the middle of the park, using all his experience. Bruno Fernandes, back in his favourite position as a number 10, was outstanding, and up front Bryan Mbeumo was a goal threat, but also able to hold the ball up, and scared people with his pace and energy.

United scored two brilliant goals, but their victory did not rely on outstanding individual performances or moments.

Instead, the whole team played their part in this win, and manager Michael Carrick deserves credit for finding a way of making that happen.

'United's players are in a formation that suits them'

People will naturally compare this United performance to what we saw from the same players under Ruben Amorim at the end of his time in charge, and it felt like we were watching a different team.

There is an element of motivation and communication from Carrick that will have helped his players, of course, but the key for me was that they all looked really comfortable with the way the team was set up.

As I explained on Match of the Day, they look happier - their body language is good and they all want the ball - they all trust each other with the ball too, and there is visibly much more confidence.

I can understand why. It sounds quite simplistic but something that is not always talked about as much as it should be after a display and result like this, is the difference it makes when you put players in a formation that suits them, which they understand.

Here it was a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 shape with Fernandes as a 10 behind Mbeumo. Amad Diallo and Patrick Dorgu were both willing to get back, because they have played as wing-backs and have done that defensive role before.

That meant United were sometimes a back six when they had to be - but even then Diallo and Dorgu still knew they were wingers when their team had the ball.

Everyone knew their jobs, with Fernandes dropping in and helping Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro, who were screening the back four nicely.

On a basic level, United's shape and what their players were asked to do, meant they defended in numbers and then, when they got the chance - bang, they flew forward. With the pace they've got, they were so dangerous.

'Going 1-0 down shifted United into gear'

To win at the Emirates, both sides of your game have to be more than just good - you have to be excellent with the ball and without it.

You have to be really good defensively - organised and drilled - so everyone, collectively, knows when to sit in and focus just on stopping Arsenal from playing.

But, also, you have to be ready when you get your chance on the ball and get forward too - whether it be on a counter or by building an attack with sustained possession - and then when you get up the pitch you have got to carry a threat.

United achieved all of this, right from the start of the game. They caused problems for Arsenal because they didn't just stay deep - they tried to have a press, which is brave at the Emirates, but it worked.

Combined with Arsenal being nervous or being too casual, it created some openings for United, which they almost capitalised on.

Arsenal had actually started the game really confidently in many ways, and dominated possession and territory. When they went 1-0 up I thought that would give them complete control but it actually shifted United into gear.

Suddenly they played with a bit more freedom and took a few more risks - and, with the help of Arsenal, they got back into the game.

From the moment Mbeumo equalised, United looked really confident. They went in at half-time with their belief enhanced because of the 1-1 scoreline, then Dorgu goes and scores a wonder goal after the break and all of a sudden they have got something to hang on to, and they are able to play on the counter a bit more.

At that point I think Arsenal helped them again, by making four substitutes at once so soon after going behind, which struck me as a bit of a panic move by Mikel Arteta.

The home fans wanted a change because they wanted some fresh impetus to turn the game around, but among the players who came off was Martin Odegaard, who was looking quite sharp, and Gabriel Jesus, who had done some really good things. I felt making all those substitutions at once meant Arsenal lost some of their rhythm and momentum.

It's a risk that all those who come on at the same time will have an impact. Arteta might feel it was one worth taking - one of his subs, Mikel Merino, did equalise from a corner - but at that point, United were still playing pretty well, and we know how good Arsenal always are at set-pieces.

At 2-2, with six minutes of the 90 to go, you think a point for both teams is not a bad result but United's belief was still there in abundance, and so was their quality on the break.

Matheus Cunha's late goal to win the game was absolutely phenomenal, and was a reward for United's approach. They were not just there to contain Arsenal, and rattled them.

A pivotal point in Arsenal's season?

Even when they were 1-0 up against United, I was saying I'd never seen this Arsenal team make so many mistakes.

Their lack of composure was unexpected because even in games like this, where they are maybe not free-flowing in attack, they still usually look in control.

Here, that control was missing.

I would put some of that down to the pressure they are feeling in trying to win the title, because I've seen myself how maintaining your composure is really difficult for even the best players when the rewards are so high.

I only really had one chance of winning the title when I was at Liverpool, in the 2001-02 season, and you could feel each game becoming bigger and bigger for everyone, the closer we got to the finish line.

We had never really dealt with that kind of pressure before, and we struggled to cope and finished runners-up, seven points behind Arsenal, in the end.

That can happen to any team on a given day, especially at home with the expectation around Arsenal at the moment because of their record at the Emirates. The problem is if it happens repeatedly.

Sunday's defeat has become a pivotal point in their season in many ways because we are all wondering if the issues that cost them against United will be compounded in the next game - or if this setback will be the jolt they need.

Arsenal have only taken two points from their past three games but are still four points clear at the top and we are nearly in February. They would definitely have taken that at the start of the season.

They have also got some wonderful players, they are a powerful, physical side with so much strength in depth, and also have far more experience of this situation now.

That's why my belief is that we will see a positive reaction this time.

Yes, United showed Arsenal are fallible and the best defence in the Premier League can make mistakes and give you chances. But let's put it in perspective, this was their first home defeat of the season.

This was the first time I've seen them look vulnerable and that doesn't mean this is going to set the tone for the rest of the campaign, or that they will crumble from here.

That's still the question that will be asked of them in the media this week. Everyone is going to say, 'are they going to bottle it?'.

But I don't think they will.

They just needed a kick up the backside, and they certainly got one of those from United.

核心单词解析

1. simplistic

含义：adj. 过于简单化的；粗浅的

例句：It sounds quite simplistic, but putting players in a suitable formation is vital for a team's success.

翻译：这听起来或许过于粗浅，但让球员处于适配的阵型中对球队的成功至关重要。

2. screen

含义：v. （足球战术）掩护；屏障式防守；n. 屏幕；屏风

例句：Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro screened the back four nicely in Manchester United's defensive system.

翻译：在曼联的防守体系中，科比・梅努和卡塞米罗为四后卫筑起了坚实的屏障式防守。

3. drilled

含义：adj. 训练有素的；v. 训练；钻孔（drill 的过去分词）

例句：To win at the Emirates, a team must be well drilled in defensive organisation.

翻译：想要在酋长球场取胜，球队的防守组织必须训练有素。

4. capitalise

含义：v. 利用；从中获利；大写（亦作 capitalize）

例句：Arsenal's nervous play created chances for United, who almost capitalised on them in the first half.

翻译：阿森纳的慌乱表现为曼联创造了机会，红魔在上半场险些利用这些机会破门。

5. sustained

含义：adj. 持续的；持久的；v. 维持；支撑（sustain 的过去分词）

例句：United were able to build attacks with sustained possession as well as launch quick counters.

翻译：曼联既能通过持续控球组织进攻，也能发起快速反击。

6. momentum

含义：n. 势头；动力；冲力

例句：Arsenal lost their rhythm and momentum after Mikel Arteta made four substitutions at once.

翻译：在米克尔・阿尔特塔一次性换四人后，阿森纳失去了比赛节奏和前进势头。

7. phenomenal

含义：adj. 非凡的；惊人的；杰出的

例句：Matheus Cunha's late winning goal was absolutely phenomenal and sealed United's famous victory.

翻译：马特乌斯・库尼亚的绝杀球堪称精彩绝伦，为曼联锁定了这场经典胜利。

8. pivotal

含义：adj. 关键的；至关重要的；中枢的

例句：Sunday's defeat has become a pivotal point in Arsenal's Premier League title race this season.

翻译：这场周日的失利成为阿森纳本赛季英超争冠之路上的关键节点。

9. composure

含义：n. 冷静；沉着；镇定

例句：Arsenal's lack of composure under pressure led to many unnecessary mistakes against United.

翻译：阿森纳在压力下失去冷静，在对阵曼联的比赛中出现了诸多无谓失误。

10. fallible

含义：adj. 会犯错的；易出错的；并非完美的

例句：Manchester United's victory showed that Arsenal, the league leaders, are fallible just like other teams.

翻译：曼联的胜利证明，联赛领头羊阿森纳和其他球队一样，也并非完美无缺。

文段翻译

曼联周日客场击败阿森纳，又是一场令人惊艳的胜利，他们的取胜方式给我留下了极为深刻的印象。

就像上周的曼市德比一样，这场胜利的最终关键，在于球队的核心球员如今终于能挺身而出。比如，看看曼联在酋长球场的球队中轴线，每位球员的表现都回归了球迷熟悉的顶级水准。

哈里・马奎尔在后防线上的发挥堪称完美，中场的卡塞米罗则将自己的大赛经验展现得淋漓尽致。布鲁诺・费尔南德斯回到了自己最擅长的前腰位置，表现亮眼；锋线上的布莱恩・姆贝乌莫不仅是门前威胁点，还能持球做球，他的速度和拼劲让阿森纳后防闻风丧胆。

曼联打入了两粒精彩的进球，但这场胜利并非依赖球员的个人高光表现或灵光一现的瞬间。

相反，球队的每位成员都为这场胜利贡献了力量，主帅迈克尔・卡里克为球队找到制胜之道，这份功劳实至名归。

「曼联球员终于身处适配自己的阵型中」

人们自然会将如今曼联的表现，与鲁本・阿莫林执教末期这批球员的状态作对比，而两场比赛看下来，仿佛是两支截然不同的球队。

当然，卡里克给予球员的激励和沟通，一定为球队带来了帮助，但在我看来，取胜的核心关键是，每位球员在当前的战术体系下，都踢得无比自在。

就像我在《比赛日》节目中所分析的，球员们看起来更开心了 —— 他们的肢体语言积极向上，每个人都渴望拿球，也信任队友的传球，球队的自信心有了肉眼可见的大幅提升。

我完全理解其中的缘由。这听起来或许有些粗浅，但在取得这样的表现和结果后，有一点往往没有得到应有的关注：当你把球员安排在他们理解且适配的阵型中时，能为球队带来天翻地覆的改变。

本场比赛，曼联摆出 4-2-3-1 或 4-4-1-1 的阵型，费尔南德斯担任姆贝乌莫身后的前腰。阿马德・迪亚洛和帕特里克・多尔古都甘愿回防参与防守，因为两人都曾踢过边翼卫，熟悉这份防守职责。

这意味着，必要时曼联的防线能形成六人体系 —— 即便如此，迪亚洛和多尔古都清楚，当球队控球时，自己的核心角色仍是边锋。

每位球员都各司其职：费尔南德斯会回撤，协助为四后卫做好屏障防守的梅努和卡塞米罗。

从基础层面来看，曼联的阵型布置和球员的战术要求，让球队能以人数优势防守，而一旦获得机会，便立刻大举压上。凭借球队的速度优势，他们的反击极具威胁。

「0-1 落后反而让曼联彻底进入状态」

想要在酋长球场取胜，球队的攻防两端都不能只做到合格 —— 控球和无球状态下的发挥，都必须做到极致。

球队的防守必须滴水不漏 —— 战术组织严密、球员训练有素，这样全队才能形成合力，知道何时该收缩防线，专注于阻止阿森纳的进攻组织。

同时，当球队获得控球机会时，也必须做好向前推进的准备 —— 无论是打快速反击，还是通过持续控球组织进攻，一旦压到对方半场，就必须制造门前威胁。

曼联从比赛一开始，就做到了以上所有点。他们给阿森纳制造了巨大麻烦，因为他们并非一味收缩防线，而是尝试实施逼抢 —— 在酋长球场这么做需要极大的勇气，而曼联成功了。

再加上阿森纳球员的紧张和轻敌，曼联就此创造出一些进攻机会，只是险些未能把握。

事实上，阿森纳的开局在很多方面都相当自信，掌控着控球率和比赛场地的主动权。当他们取得 1-0 领先时，我本以为比赛会被他们完全掌控，可事实却是，这一比分反而让曼联彻底进入了比赛状态。

突然间，曼联的踢法变得更具自由度，也敢于尝试更多进攻冒险 —— 在阿森纳的失误加持下，他们成功将比赛拉回均势。

从姆贝乌莫扳平比分的那一刻起，曼联的自信心便拉满了。带着 1-1 的比分进入半场，球队的信念更加坚定；下半场多尔古打入一记世界波后，曼联终于手握领先优势，也得以更多地通过反击主导比赛。

在我看来，此时阿森纳又一次给了曼联机会：球队落后后不久，阿尔特塔便一次性做出四次换人调整，在我看来，这是一记慌乱的操作。

主场球迷渴望球队做出调整，希望能有新的动力扭转比赛局势，但被换下的球员中，包括状态相当出色的马丁・厄德高，以及表现亮眼的加布里埃尔・热苏斯。我认为，一次性做出如此多的换人调整，让阿森纳失去了比赛的节奏和势头。

一次性换上场的所有球员都能发挥作用，这本身就是一场豪赌。阿尔特塔或许认为这场赌局值得一试 —— 他的替补球员米克尔・梅里诺确实通过角球扳平了比分 —— 但彼时曼联的表现依旧出色，况且我们都知道，阿森纳的定位球进攻一向极具威胁。

比赛第 84 分钟，比分来到 2-2，此时两队各取一分似乎是个不错的结果，但曼联依旧拥有满满的必胜信念，他们的反击质量也丝毫未减。

马特乌斯・库尼亚的绝杀球堪称精彩绝伦，这也是对曼联整场比赛战术打法的最好回报。他们来到酋长球场，并非只为死守逼平阿森纳，而是真正给对手制造了巨大的压力，让阿森纳阵脚大乱。

「阿森纳本赛季的关键节点？」

即便在 1-0 领先曼联时，我就曾说过，我从未见过这支阿森纳出现如此多的失误。

他们的心态失衡令人意外，因为即便在这样进攻不够流畅的比赛中，阿森纳以往也总能掌控比赛节奏。

但这场比赛，他们丢掉了这份掌控力。

我认为，这在一定程度上源于球队为争夺联赛冠军所承受的巨大压力，因为我亲身经历过，即便最顶级的球员，在夺冠的巨大诱惑面前，也很难保持冷静。

我在利物浦效力时，只在 2001-02 赛季有过一次真正的争冠机会，当我们越接近赛季尾声，每场比赛的重要性就愈发凸显，所有人都能感受到这份压力。

我们此前从未应对过这样的高压，最终也未能扛住，以联赛亚军收场，落后当时的冠军阿森纳 7 分。

这种情况随时可能发生在任何一支球队身上，尤其是阿森纳如今在主场，还背负着酋长球场不败的战绩期待。问题的关键，在于这样的失误是否会反复出现。

从诸多方面来看，这场周日的失利已成为阿森纳本赛季的关键节点，因为所有人都在质疑：这场比赛导致球队失利的问题，是否会在下一场比赛中加剧？而这次挫折，又是否会成为球队需要的一记警钟？

阿森纳近三轮联赛仅取 2 分，但在积分榜上仍以 4 分优势领跑，如今联赛已临近二月。若是在赛季初，这样的排名他们定然求之不得。

况且，阿森纳阵中拥有众多顶级球员，球队阵容实力强劲、身体对抗出色，阵容深度也极为可观，如今应对这种争冠高压的经验也远比以往丰富。

这也是我相信，球队此次会做出积极反弹的原因。

诚然，曼联的胜利证明了阿森纳并非不可战胜，这支英超防守最稳固的球队，也会出现失误，给对手可乘之机。但我们也应客观看待：这只是阿森纳本赛季的首场主场失利。

这是我第一次看到这支阿森纳露出脆弱的一面，但这并不意味着，这场失利会奠定球队本赛季剩余比赛的基调，更不代表他们会从此一蹶不振。

尽管如此，本周媒体依旧会向阿森纳抛出这个问题：他们是否会在争冠的压力下临阵怯场？

但我认为，他们不会。

他们只是需要一记警钟，而曼联的这场胜利，无疑给了他们狠狠的一击。