Arsenal's win at Man Utd sign of growth and maturity within Arteta's squad - no time for negativity 

Standards built over past few years much higher than what we saw during win over Man Utd - precisely why victory is so encouraging says loyal Gooner Tia Thorne

1–0 to The Arsenal, at Old Trafford, in the very first game of the season — and we did it despite not being the better team on the day.

Gooners, this is not a result we should be dwelling on with negativity.

If anything, it should be taken as a sign of growth and maturity within this squad.

Yes, the performance wasn’t up to the level we’ve come to expect under this manager.

I know that, you know that, and most importantly, the players and manager themselves know that.

The standards we’ve built over the past few years are much higher than what we saw yesterday, but that’s precisely why this result is so encouraging.

It was the opening game of the season, we still have fitness to build, rhythm to find, and tactical tweaks to make.

Performances can and will improve.

So why are we treating this as a negative instead of appreciating the bigger picture?

Think back to years gone by. How many times have we been the better team, created the better chances, controlled matches — and still walked away empty-handed?

I don’t need to remind you of the game against United in 2017, when David De Gea put in one of the best goalkeeping displays you’ll ever see, saving everything in sight, and United still ran out 3–1 winners despite us deserving much more.

That sort of frustration has haunted us too often.

On Sunday, for once, the shoe was on the other foot.

We didn’t shine, we didn’t dominate, but we got the result - that matters.

Last season is one many of us don’t want to revisit, but let’s be honest: if we had put in this exact same performance last season, would we have come away with three points at Old Trafford?

Almost certainly not. More likely, we’d have drawn or even lost the game.

That’s the difference now — we’re learning how to win even when we’re not playing anywhere near our best.

That’s the hallmark of a side with serious ambitions.

Isn’t that what champions are supposed to do?

Grind out results, keep clean sheets, and turn tight margins into victories?

So instead of tearing into the performance, let’s recognise what this could mean.

The season is long, and this was just the first hurdle. The players will get sharper, the football will improve, and the standards will return to the level we know they can reach.

But to start the campaign with a win away at Old Trafford, under pressure, without playing well — that’s a statement in itself.

We can only get better from here, and that should excite us.