William The Conqueror. Saliba, the deft destroyer, gives Arsenal hope.

Plus Arsenal set-piece routine in the technical area and penalty area; the roof falls in on Manchester United; and Toon Army's love for Anthony Gordon

The big narrative of title races is formed from tiny details. A goal here, bad refereeing decision there and a tackle like William Saliba’s on Alejandro Garnacho at Old Trafford. It was a masterpiece of concentration, timing and execution, Saliba waiting for the optimum moment before stretching out his left foot to seduce the ball away from the galloping Manchester United left winger.

Saliba turns away from Hojlund. Photo: Ash Donelon/MUFC via Getty Images

Any misjudgement of timing or force level and it would have been a penalty and an equaliser. Arsenal would doubtless have responded, and reclaimed the lead but Saliba’s intervention embodied this display - defensively sound. Not content simply with denying Garnacho, Saliba immediately focused on launching a counter. Lying on the ground, Saliba flicked the loose ball out of the area for Bukayo Saka to attack.

       It was a very Mikel Arteta-approved moment, synchronicity between repossessing and recycling. Saliba doesn’t get mentioned in individual awards but it is hard to think of a more important player for Arsenal at the moment. He’s there for every second, every minute of their league season, their foundation of rock. It’s possible to make a case for Saliba defining Arsenal’s title credentials last season as well as this. The moment he injured his back against Sporting Lisbon on March 16, Arsenal won only five of their remaining 11 Premier League fixtures. They slumped from top spot, five points clear, to second, five points behind serial winners Manchester City.

       Arsenal didn’t lose their nerve last season; they lost Saliba. Now he’s their ever-present, Arsenal have taken the title race with Pep Guardiola’s machine right down to the wire. City rightly remain favourites but Saliba has made Arsenal so hard to beat. The Frenchman’s rapid nature, both physically and mentally in anticipating danger, also means Arsenal can defend higher up the field. Their more creative types are even closer to the opposition goal. Everyone rightly praises Declan Rice and Thomas Partey for shielding the back-four but Saliba and Gabriel also give Rice in particular a stronger platform to go and express himself.

Saliba, who has built a formidable partnership with Gabriel, shines in the toughest settings, at Anfield (1-1), at the Etihad (0-0) and now a 1-0 win, admittedly against creaky United at leaky Old Trafford.

Let’s hope Didier Deschamps received the video from Sunday. France’s coach still needs convincing judging by recent comments. “He is having a good season,” Deschamps said of Saliba’s Arsenal form. “But he also does things that I don’t like so much.” Deschamps did not specify Saliba’s flaws. After omitting him for the exacting friendly against Germany in March, Deschamps did start Saliba against Chile. Saliba has to start for France at the Euros, whether alongside Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano or Benjamin Pavard. It would be quite a decision for Deschamps to leave him out of France’s opening group game against Austria on June 17.

What Gareth Southgate would give for a centre-back of Saliba’s calibre; only John Stones come close. What any manager would give for Saliba; probably only Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger is in better form, and he’s more broadsword than rapier. Virgil van Dijk returns to his best at Liverpool but Saliba has the edge. And his many talents have given Arsenal a shot at glory. And Saliba’s still only 23.

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William Saliba excelling in Arsenal’s defence, Casemiro regressing in Manchester United reflected the difference. Like Old Trafford’s roof, the gaps in United defence and squad simply showed how poorly directed investment has been during the Glazer years. United have the FA Cup to play for and then face one of the most important summers in their history. Get Dan Ashworth in and decide on Erik ten Hag’s future. Sort out a mess of a squad. And restore the players’ belief. Rasmus Hojlund will be a good centre-forward but he lacked confidence, service and concentration against Arsenal; he was caught offside, purely through not bending his run or focus.

United’s captain for the day, Scott McTominay, inexplicably let a ball run across him, granting it unchecked passage to Martin Odegaard. Casemiro failed to push up for Arsenal’s goal. United operated as individuals. Arsenal worked in twos and threes and with strong partnerships all over the field, not only Gabriel and Saliba but Bukayo Saka and Ben White doubling up on Alejandro Garnacho. United need hungrier players - and better coaching.

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A weekend bookended by Old Firm and Old Trafford trips brought a train journey via Newcastle and chats with a couple of southbound Toon fans. Anthony Gordon’s vibrant form for Newcastle dominated our conversation. They insisted Gordon was Newcastle’s Player of the Year, even ahead of Alexander Isak. They admitted to having doubts about Gordon when he arrived on Tyneside, wondering how much he had actually done at Everton, but were quickly won over by his 10 goals, 10 assists and countless driving runs down the left. Gareth Southgate watched Gordon against Brighton & Hove Albion and will surely include the 23-year-old in his 26 for the Euros. No other left-sided player is in better form. And he can take a penalty.

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Arsenal corners trigger set movements not only for players. The coaching staff also assume set positions. Mikel Arteta stands to the far side of the technical area while his set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, directing operations, takes the nearest permissible vantage point. Against Manchester United, Arsenal mixed up their corners, especially from the right where Bukayo Saka either dropped left-footed inswingers on top of Andre Onana or to the near-post looking for flicks from the likes of Ben White. Saka also played a couple short to Martin Odegaard. Jover watched intently, and when the move was over, and United largely defended them well, returned to his seat, conducting a brief review with staff, including those with a monitor. Arteta took centre again. But ceding that position briefly to Jover highlighted how importantly Arteta takes set-pieces.