Ruben Amorim has already identified how to get a better result against Arsenal next time in January

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The Ruben Amorim era at Manchester United got its first stumbling block, losing away at Arsenal 2-0.

It was a performance that promised the hope for a brighter future while laying bare the problems at hand and the work to be done at the same time.

Two set-piece goals proved to be Man Utd’s undoing in an otherwise stifling defensive display, although the attack left a lot to be desired.

Ruben Amorim had warned that “a storm is coming” but regardless of the result, this was much better than expected.

Most importantly, Man United will get a second crack at the Gunners in the FA Cup third round, where they’ll travel to the Emirates again on January 11. Amorim has already identified how to get a better result, or at least try to address the weaknesses from this loss.

Ruben Amorim decodes Arsenal vs Man Utd

In the first half against Arsenal, United not only managed to nullify their attacking threat completely but also fashioned some chances through direct play.

Their ability to play through the press and retain possession was frustrating Arsenal fans to no end and that was transmitted to the players, who looked rushed on the ball.

It was all going according to plan and had United taken their rare chances, this could have been a marquee moment in Amorim’s nascent spell in charge.

However, once the corner barrage opened and Arsenal got wind in their sails, it became impossible for United to contend and if anything, every set-piece looked like a potential goal from that point onwards.

Amorim spoke to Amazon Prime after the game and decoded the game, pointing out things to improve for the FA Cup game in January.

He said: “It is incredible. The set pieces changed everything. We have to understand they have years of doing that. We tried to defend them but it’s hard for any team to defend the set pieces of Arsenal. That is one thing I hope to improve upon when we face them.

“Set pieces. That is important. And we have to be aggressive in the opponent’s box. We have a lot of areas to improve.”

Man Utd’s biggest weakness is Arsenal’s biggest strength

Amorim has always spoken like a winner with a fierce mentality while also remaining humble and realistic about the club’s current chances.

He will undoubtedly work hard between now and January to address this set-piece fragility but the reality is that they aren’t the first team to be done like this by Arsenal and they won’t be the last.

Nicolas Jover’s work with Arsenal set-pieces have made them the cream of the crop in all of Europe but it looked worse vs United because their biggest strength is precisely United’s big weakness.

Under Erik ten Hag, United were infamously weak on set-pieces, attacking or defensive, and the appointment of set-piece coach Andreas Georgson was made to address it.

Now in a revamped coaching staff, he already looks to have lost influence as Amorim’s assistant, Carlos Fernandes, looks like the one most active on the touchline during set-pieces.

Ultimately, United will get better with more time playing together and training but this was clearly an outlier game against an opponent whose biggest strength coincided with United’s biggest weakness.