Man Utd’s ‘storm’ came early for Ruben Amorim at Arsenal – but the demanding new coach is already bringing Sir Alex Ferguson’s standards back

Manchester United’s return to the elite class has been delayed again. After opening the Ruben Amorim era with a draw and two wins, United came back down to earth at Arsenal on Wednesday.

The “storm” that Amorim warned fans about ahead of the game manifested itself metaphorically and literally at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners ruthlessly exploited his side’s weaknesses on a rain-soaked pitch. Ultimately, United couldn’t complain about the 2-0 defeat, which saw them drop into the bottom half of the Premier League.

But the performance was by no means a disgrace. Arsenal didn’t have everything going their way and the tension in the air was palpable until Jurrien Timber opened the scoring ten minutes into the second half.

The United players clearly accept Amorim’s methods. The Portuguese has stressed the need for patience because he is a realist, which is refreshing after two years of delusional ravings from his predecessor Erik ten Hag. However, there have been clearer signs of progress in north London and the story could be very different when the two teams next meet in the FA Cup in early January.