Thank you very much for joining me for an enjoyable New Year’s Day.

Here’s the match report, which includes the word ‘mojo’ in the headline.

Van Persie pointing out how many times Rashford and Martial made dozens of great runs but never received the ball. A sign of United’s issues.

A very honest interview from Luiz, who points out the team were unhappy and unfit under Emery.

Luiz: “I think it was great. We did a great first-half and we were a mature team in the second.

“Physically we are not ready. When you are physically not there you have to show heart.

“We are trying to change things but you can’t go from zero to 10 in one day. It’s great to see how committed the kids are.

“Mikel is a great coach. I think he can improve every single player. In life, when you are happy, results can be a lot different.”

Sokratis: “We have to start again. We have a lot of space to improve. Second half we did not play like the first half but I think every game is better. The fans are back and I hope the new year brings the best.

“We are not ready to fight for 90 minutes and this second half again today we were struggling but every players like the way we play.”

Don’t take my word for it ...

United just could not create anything of use. Lingard and Pereira were frankly poor (and have been for a while). Surely Solskjaer must do all he can to sign Christian Eriksen.

Mesut Ozil completed 90 minutes which is a rare sight. I say this without any research but it’s certainly a positive for Arsenal.

The Emirates is singing Sweet Caroline while Arteta goes to each member of his team to celebrate. They players seem to like him, that’s for sure.

90+2 mins: There’s been plenty off huffing and puffing from United but without any real quality in the final third, which must worry Solskjaer. The latest being Mata finding Rashford in the box but he volleys into Leno’s chest.

Keown gives Luiz Man of the Match. It could have been a number of players in their defensive ranks. Torreira and Xhaka have also been excellent.

90 mins: Four minutes added on.

89 mins: Aubameyang breaks clear of Fred, who tries to take him down but fails. The striker gets to the edge of the box and tries to find the marauding Nelson but the cross is not good enough and United clear.

Daire Finnie offers: “Maguire on course to be United’s most expensive mistake since Pogba. He may yet come good but the first 20 odd games for United he has been by far the weakest link in defence..even when Young has played.”

87 mins: If Arteta’s methods are going to work then he needs a fitter squad. Other (better) teams than United will break them down if they are this fatigue in the second half. They are still holding on here.

85 mins: Arsenal are playing very deep and United just cannot find a way through at the moment.

83 mins: Torreira has taken on some energy gel and is battling his way through the final few minutes.

81 mins: Arsenal have some issues. Lacazette is down, Torreira looks done for. Arteta only has one sub left. In the end Guendouzi replaces Lacazette.

Mata replaces Matic for United.

79 mins: Aubameyang cuts in from the left, dribbles towards the box, gives it to Lacazette who opens his body up but whacks his shot high and wide from 20 yards.

Saka leads a break out from Arsenal, using his fresh legs to dribble beyond on the United defence but he shoots off-balance and it trickles into De Gea’s hands.

77 mins: Guendouzi is ready to come on, one assumes for Torreira.

75 mins: Fred swings in a cross from the right, after the referee has a word with Sokratis about something or other, which Leno punches clear.

Arsenal break and Ozil plays a fine pass for Lacazette to run onto but the Frenchman is static.

73 mins: United are penning Arsenal in and the hosts are struggling to hold them back. Greenwood collects the ball on the edge of the area and strikes a low drive which Leno drops on top of.

71 mins: Martial pulls the ball back from the byline, Fred collects it and lays it off to Wan-Bissaka who takes the ball into the box and goes down under a challenge. United call for a penalty, Arsenal claim its a dive and VAR gives nothing.

69 mins: Kolasinac has dropped to the floor with his usual ankle issue and he is replaced by Saka.

I would argue the second was not a bookable offence but it was a close call. You do indeed have a point.

67 mins: Holding looked like he was coming on but he’s put his training gear back on. Maybe someone has a problem in the Arsenal defence ...

65 mins: United are putting pressure on the Arsenal defence. Martial drives into the Arsenal box only to be crowded out but he gets the ball to Pereira, who lays it off to Rashford and he curls a shot just over the bar.

63 mins: Pepe departs and Nelson comes on. Martial pushes the Arsenal man off the side of the pitch to speed up proceedings.

This tweet was supposed to be sent to Metro, I believe.

61 mins: Arsenal have certainly slowed down in this half, like they did against Chelsea. They need to work on their fitness so they can keep up the tempo required by Arteta for 90 minutes.

59 mins: Matic turns himself inside and out on the edge and then works it through to Pereira but he snatches at the shot and it whacks into the side netting.

I am not saying it is the rules, just that it could be a factor in the referee’s mind. Send your complaint letter to Chris Kavanagh.

57 mins: Pereira and Greenwood are on for United. Lingard is coming off, as he’s been awful, and James is also withdrawn.

55 mins: James gets into the box and spots a gap at the front post so tries a cheeky shot but Leno gets down well and holds on.

Fred whacks one from 25 yards with his right boot but it’s right down Leno’s throat.

53 mins: Lingard fires a shot from 20 yards but it is blocked by Luiz in the area. United are having more of the ball in this half but struggling to do anything with it.

51 mins: United have sent a few players out to warm up. Changes must be coming.

49 mins: Martial dissects the defence with a pass but it’s got too much on it for Rashford and calmly dribbles into Leno’s arms.

Fred again scythes down Lacazette and still avoids a booking. Kolasinac got carded in the opening few minutes for a little push. The referee has been inconsistent.

47 mins: Luiz comes out of defence to whack the ball against James for his own amusement. Fred then catches Lacazette on the shin but the referee takes no further action.

No changes for United but surely it cannot be long until Solskjaer rolls the dice.

Dael Morris points out: “United look woeful. You’ve been right that the problems are with Matic, who’s simply outpaced, and Shaw, who’s simply not good or smart enough, but you have to credit the Arsenal team’s willingness to press everyone in possession. United look stunned every time they’re closed down. Also, both Lindelof and Maguire are at fault for the goals. They both need to be closing down attackers and in the case of both goals the goal scorers have far too much time to decide what to do, mainly because the defenders are clueless.

“It’s a weird game to watch as a United supporter, because United look like they have never really started and are trying to remember what they were told in the briefing, rather than deal with what they’re actually facing. It’s all common this season to see United play like they’re learning.”

Certainly the best I’ve seen Arsenal play for a long old while. I am taking nothing away from them.

Already on a booking, so a touch of lenience added?

Martin Lancon asks about Luiz: “How does he get away with it, two off the ball fouls, both seen by VAR, one given as foul, surely yellow in hindsight after first. He used to get away with it at Chelsea as well, sneakily dirty player but never carded because never seen by ref the type of incident that I thought was one of the reasons for VAR.”

He knows when to do it to avoid the glare of the officials.

David Moyes is a genius.

Yeah, to be fair it was. I am just trying to rebuild Ozil’s reputation singlehandedly.

Peter Oh tries to bring intelligent thought to this blog: “The Arsenal attack asking questions that the United defence can’t answer. The Sokratic method?”

45 mins: One minute added on.

44 mins: The Emirates is bouncing, something which has not happened for a while.

United need to change things at half-time. Greenwood on for Lingard?

40 mins: Lacazette drifts out to the right from where he bends in a super cross along the six-yard line but there is no one there to meet it. Arsenal are definitely a more attacking and inventive force under Arteta. Long may it continue.

38 mins: De Gea’s latest error sees him try to whack a clearance straight into Lacazette but it just clips the striker and goes about 18 yards to Pepe, who pikcks up the ball, cuts in and curls a shot against the base of the post. A let-off for De Gea and United.

36 mins: Arsenal have been on top in this game since the opener and United do not seem to have a gear change. Is it down to the fixture schedule or just a bad performance?

It might not be a bad idea. Lingard also not in the game.

34 mins: Torreira is the next to have a pop. He spins on the edge of the box, gets the ball onto his left foot and swings through his shot but the ball goes inches wide of De Gea’s left-hand post.

32 mins: Lacazette should double the lead. Pepe lays it into Lacazette in the area, he spins Maguire but then sends his shot closer to the corner flag than the goal.

30 mins: Maguire then seems to catch Lacazette when jumping for a header but the referee sees nothing in it. It looks like Maguire catches the striker in the back of the head with his elbow, leaving the Frenchman to rub his head. There is nothing malicious in it but it should be a foul.

28 mins: Martial drives into the area but Sokratis gets round to clear the ball out of a throw.

A less successful intervention from a centre-back sees Maguire clean out Ozil about five seconds late to stop a counter-attack.

26 mins: One obvious thing about United is how much they miss McTominay in the middle of the park. No one else can match his energy in there and things just look quite sluggish.

To mix things up, a long ball is played over the top for Rashford to chase but Leno reads the danger and comes outside of his box to head clear. I think turning the defence and using the pace of their attackers could be a fruitful concept tonight.

24 mins: United are popping the ball around a bit but they are struggling with the final pass.

A fine joke:

22 mins: It might not be his best position but Aubameyang is dangerous on the left, whipping in a delightful cross with the outside of his boot which just defeats everyone and Shaw clears.

Ian Collins writes in to discuss poor Luke: “Are we saying that Jose was right about the once great hope for England left back and that he’s just not that good?”

I agree with Mourinho on everything.

20 mins: Arsenal’s front four seem to have a better understanding than United’s who are yet to click tonight, playing some sloppy passes as attacks keep breaking down.

18 mins: Maitland-Niles pulls down Rashford, who for added effect jumps up a bit to show it is a foul. United need to get Fred on the ball a bit more as Matic just does not have the passing range to cause problems.

16 mins: This sounds delightful ... as a fellow south Londoner, I can confirm this is not a regular occurrence but I am also quite pro-Pepe.

14 mins: Luiz is done for holding Martial on the halfway line, which is frankly pointless. He looks to be playing on the edge tonight.

12 mins: Shaw might be in a for dreadful evening trying to stop Pepe, purely because the United man isn’t actually very good. He does not look smart enough to keep the Arsenal man quiet.

10 mins: Just before the goal I was typing about how United had started the better but needed to make the most of it. They proved me right.

Pepe almost turns provider by rinsing Shaw just outside the area - in the end the defender does well to not give away a penalty - the winger then lifts a ball to the back post to Aubameyang who volleys over.

6 mins: Maitland-Niles puts his team into trouble by passing the ball straight to Lingard who drives forward and slips in James but Arsenal recover and the ball is diverted behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

4 mins: Kolasinac bundles over James who is far too quick for the full-back. The Arsenal defender in the end gets booked for his indiscretion - not good news for a man who is up against one of the fastest players in league. Fred whips in the set-piece but Leno comes out and punches clear.

Martial is also unhappy after being caught late by Luiz, who gets away with it.

2 mins: United start the game brightly and break on Arsenal, resulting in Lingard laying it off to Rashford who lines up a drive from 25 yards which dips and bounces but Leno gets himself behind it.

The players are in the tunnel but I doubt we will see any Vieira v Keane-esque shenanigans. Looks quiet.

I think it’s fair to say it is a crisp day in London. Lovely night for a zipping the ball around the Emirates.

The battle for second is still on!

Graham Fulcher asks: “Re the small piece of news. I wonder if they would have been better extending the loan. Some players with Championship experience could prove invaluable next year.”

I have a feeling he will be off elsewhere. Bristol City are very interested.

Paul Mullally brings the pleasantries: “First off happy new year. As a lifelong United fan, Pogba missing tonight’s game is not surprising players hold the power in this day and age is Mino Raiola up to some mischief? Anyway enjoy the game United 2 Gooners 1.”

Happy New Year to everyone! Even Mino.

Small piece of Arsenal news: they have recalled Eddie Nketiah from Leeds.

BT Sport have been surprisingly smug about being on air all day. It’s literally your job, lads. And well done for making Manchester United fans travel down to London for an 8pm kick-off.

Kim Doyle is hoping for goals: “It is a new year for the Gunners and an offensive look that all the fans have been waiting for – Auba, Laca, Ozil and Pepe all starting. Perhaps a flurry of goals will follow.”

Not a good sign ...

Paul Pogba is “feeling some discomfort in his ankle and he’ll be out for a few weeks - definitely”, says Solskjaer. Hmmm ...

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

Some potential January moves in this morning’s Rumour Mill ...

I am expecting Aubameyang to play on the left, which is a shame as it’s certainly not his best position but Arteta has obviously decided the way to go is to get all his best players onto the pitch and fit them into a formation.

Bill emails in: “Re the 606 call (18.57), any analysis of Arsenal’s descent will have to include a look at the seemingly entitled, paranoid, delusional, highly critical parts of the fan base, I’d say. I think Arteta seems to have a great plan and be acting intelligently. No wonder he’s had to spend time rallying the fans, but should that be necessary? I can see the point of being vocal where it’s due (Emery was a mistake from the off), but surely support should go the other way, from fan to club”

Welcome to a new year.

No Pogba once again for United, which will fuel a few rumours, I am sure. He didn’t feature at Burnley due to some degree of fatigue. Can he still be tired?

January business for United?

Xhaka and Torreira are paired together as the wall to stop Manchester United and that Arsenal front four looks rather exciting: Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang and Lacazette.

Matic keeps his place in midfield for United, while Shaw will line up against Pepe, which will be an intriguing battle.

An Arsenal ‘fan’ has just phoned up 606 to say they are going down and Aubameyang and Lacazette aren’t good enough. I know things aren’t great the the moment but to say the Gunners will be relegated is bizarre. Odd chap.

Here’s David Hytner on Mikel Arteta’s worries.