Arsenal and Manchester United Battle for the Golden Goal

LONDON, SATURDAY — In this season's English League, particularly for Arsenal and Manchester United, the first goal has become the most crucial factor. Whoever scores first will be smiling broadly at the final whistle. The atmosphere of the match will resemble that of the golden goal rule era, as Arsenal faces MU.

The golden goal rule has brought many dramatic stories in major tournaments, such as the World Cup and the European Championship, from the mid-90s to the early 2000s. This rule applied after a draw in normal time, then continued into extra time. The team that scored first would be declared the winner.

After the rule was abolished in 2004, the atmosphere of the gold goal competition will return when Arsenal hosts MU at the Emirates Stadium, London, on Sunday (25/1/2026) at 23:30 WIB. Both teams have an impressive record after being able to score first against their opponents in the English Premier League matches.

According to data from Opta Analyst, Arsenal and Manchester United are the teams with the most unbeaten records when scoring first. Arsenal has a perfect record, winning all 13 matches. Manchester United has scored first more often, 14 times, but has a lower number of victories (8 wins, 6 draws).

As a result, the first goal will be very crucial in the upcoming big match, especially for the visiting team. MU's game plan could fall apart if they concede a goal first. As is known, the team coached by interim manager Michael Carrick arrives with high motivation following their victory over local rivals Manchester City 2-0 last week.

However, it is important to note that MU won thanks to a quick counter-attack scheme. Bruno Fernandes and his teammates have a great potential to repeat this strategy. They will defend deeper and then transition when an opportunity arises. The problem is, this strategy will be disrupted if Arsenal manages to take the lead first.

"A significant challenge for us. You know, they are a very good team. They have so much strength in their game. They are where they are right now (at the top of the Premier League and the Champions League) for a reason. We are aware of that and will come with positive energy," said Carrick.

A 100 percent winning record for Arsenal after taking the lead is evidence of the maturity of the team coached by manager Mikel Arteta. Their defense has been very solid this season, having conceded only 14 goals, which is the best in the league. Once they are ahead, "The Gunners" typically play more cautiously, making it increasingly difficult for opposing teams.

In the Manchester derby, Manchester United's low block defense was very solid. City, which has a plethora of creative players and the goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland, could only produce one shot on target. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated that the defensive scheme that minimizes space is always difficult to face.

Nevertheless, Arsenal always has many ways to win. One of the most relied upon is through set pieces. In fact, in the first meeting against MU at Old Trafford Stadium, they won 1-0 thanks to a goal from a corner kick. Moreover, six out of the last ten goals scored by Arsenal were produced through set pieces.

On the other hand, Arsenal is also determined not to fall behind. City proved last week that MU becomes increasingly aggressive after taking the lead. "The Red Devils" can rely more on transitions as the opposing team will attack more. Fernandes, the creative midfielder, will feel more comfortable when given more space.

In the meeting at Old Trafford earlier in the season, United were still managed by Ruben Amorim. They were able to trouble Arsenal by pressing high through a man-to-man defensive system. Arteta anticipated a surprise from Carrick. "Michael has come in with new ideas. You saw in the derby what kind of attitude and style they displayed. We're expecting a tough match," said Arteta.

The atmosphere of the golden goal rule becomes more pronounced when observing the poor records of both teams when conceding the first goal. Arsenal has only managed to win twice out of seven matches after conceding the first goal. Manchester United is in a much worse position, with only one victory from seven matches. It is understandable that the first goal at the Emirates Stadium becomes crucial.

Carrick has a better record against Arteta in their meetings. They faced each other once, when Carrick served as the interim coach of MU for the first time at the end of 2021. MU managed to defeat Arsenal 3-2 at home during that match. "The Red Devils" were able to match the aggressive play of the opposing team.

Certainly, the situation of the Arsenal squad has changed significantly compared to about four years ago. Arteta has developed the squad over the years, while Manchester United has been busy changing coaches. City manager Pep Guardiola himself acknowledged that "The Gunners" are currently the best team in the world.

Arsenal received good news ahead of the match. They are once again able to field two left wing-backs, Riccardo Calafiori and Pierro Hincapie, who had been injured. The presence of both is crucial, considering the significant threat posed by MU winger Amad Diallo on that side. The return of Calafiori and Hincapie could change the fate of the match. (AP/REUTERS)