Diogo Dalot: Antony showed he can make a difference at Manchester United

Erik ten Hag's team continue revival with victory over Arsenal

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot celebrates after the 3-1 Premier League win over Arsenal at Old Trafford on September 4, 2022. Getty

Diogo Dalot and Jadon Sancho of Manchester United celebrate following their victory over Arsenal. Getty Images

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli in action with Manchester United's Diogo Dalot. Reuters

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot celebrates. AP Photo

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot, left, challenges for the ball with Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli. AP Photo

Manchester United's Raphael Varane, left, and Diogo Dalot celebrate. AP Photo

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli vies with Manchester United's Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot. AFP

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot celebrates after the match. Reuters

Diogo Dalot, 23, has started all six Manchester United games this season, establishing himself at right back ahead of Aaron Wan Bissaka. After United’s 3-1 win at home to Arsenal, the Portuguese international spoke to journalists in the mixed zone.

Another win, four in a row. The first time since April 2021 in the Premier League. A long time coming, but is it important to build momentum?

Yes. This is what we've been working for. To be honest, it's a good moment for us, we want to take this as an opportunity to keep it going, to give motivation to everyone at the club, to the fans as well. But we know that is still a process and we want to keep it going.

Are you feeling that you're playing your best football since you came to Manchester United?

I feel it's been a good moment, individually. Obviously, collectively when you are good, the individuals come afterwards. This is what I've been fighting for to show my level. This is the level that I want to keep for a long time. There's still room for improvement of course and this is what I aim for every single day, to improve what I need to improve, but keep the consistency, keep the level high, because this is the standard of this club.

Why is this happening?

I mean, a lot of work. This is the type of mentality that I want to have. Always searching for ways to improve every single day to help the club, to help the team that needs me and obviously I believe that I'm capable of doing it.

So how was it playing with Antony?

Very good. He showed that in just two or three days that he could come in and make the difference he made with a beautiful goal, a beautiful team goal. And I think is one more player to help. We want to build a very good squad this season and with him I think we’re going to have more quality.

The manager said a few days ago that Antony only had two training sessions with the team. What was he like?

He has the advantage of knowing the way that the manager thinks, he's already adapted to his football side, now he’s adapted to the new teammates. I think you could see in the minutes that he played that he showed some character, showed some desire and I'm sure that everyone will love that. And obviously the quality that he has, the mentality that he has, I think will improve.

United v Arsenal ratings

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 7: His best first-half moment was a 32nd minute save from Martinelli – three minutes after a save with his feet from same player. Getty

Diogo Dalot 6: Cut the ball back towards Bruno in a second minute attack. That a right back was in an advanced attacking position on the left shows how far forward he can go. Crisp passing forward to Antony. Reuters

Raphael Varane 6: Busy with Jesus in front of him and the pair tussled throughout. His ball led to Arsenal’s equaliser. But another 90 minutes under his belt, the fourth in a row. And with those, four victories. EPA

Lisandro Martinez 7: Lucky not to be booked early on. Competitive, intelligent and occasional erratic. The only player to stop Jesus in one early attack. Arsenal’s equaliser went through his legs. Left the field with fans singing ‘Argentina!’ in his honour. AFP

Tyrell Malacia 6: His hardest match since he joined United. Beaten for pace by Saka in an 18th minute Arsenal attack, made a couple of clumsy challenges, but found his groove and played the duration. Roared as he outjumped the taller Nketiah in injury time. Getty

Scott McTominay 8: Keeping his place in side after solid recent performances. Tackled Jesus strongly to a roar after six minutes. Yellow card after 70 after he wrestled same player to ground. Connected with a Martinelli bound cross on 90 – to congratulations from De Gea. AP

Christian Eriksen 8: Volleyed wide in opening 10 minutes. Integral to setting up Antony’s goal. Tireless, creative. Fouled by Odegaard in the run up what Arsenal thought was a goal in first half. His best game since joining United. Getty

Bruno Fernandes 7: Groans after he lost possession a couple of times in the first half. Badly fouled by Sambi after 26 and went to ground. Tries the risky ball forward all the time – like when he set up Rashford for the second. Grafted non stop. AFP

Antony 8: Dream debut for the big money signing. Incredible skill to get the ball to Dalot from a cul-de-sac with two Arsenal players around him. Put his team ahead and celebrated like it was the greatest moment of his life. Tried a chip from distance on 45. A quiet second half. Getty

Jadon Sancho 6: A shot on target after 10 in a bright start for United. He wasn’t decisive, he didn’t beat his man enough, he wasn’t really heavily involved. AP

Marcus Rashford 8: Beautifully timed ball to set up Antony for United’s opening goal. Then put United back in front after 65, sprinting onto a Fernandes pass and finishing in front of the Stretford End. Quality moment, as was his second for the third goal. Left the field with Stretford End singing his name. EPA

SUBS: Cristiano Ronaldo (On for Antony 58’) 6: Jumped high to head an Eriksen ball. Poor cross towards goal on 72 and gave the ball away on 90, too. AFP

Fred (On for Sancho 67’) 6: Played in a more advanced role than usual. Counter attacked on 82, but played a poor ball forward to Ronaldo. Did similar oin injury time. AFP

Harry Maguire (On for Martinez 80’) N/A. Picked up a yellow within a minute. Getty

Casemiro (On for Rashford 80’). Getty

ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 6: No sign of problem that made him injury doubt. Blocked early Sancho strike with legs in 10th minute and forced into good save from Fernandes in second half after gifting the ball to United with woeful pass out. No chance with goals as defence was pulled apart each time. Reuters

Ben White 7: Intriguing contest with England teammate Sancho and won the battle keeping the former Dortmund attacker very quiet, but United man will have bragging honours with final result. Getty

William Saliba 6: Defender side-footed good chance wide of target in opening 10 minutes. Booked for tactical foul on Sancho. Caught out by pass through middle for Rashford’s first goal. Reuters

Gabriel 6: Dragged well out of position in run-up to Antony goal. Had helped keep Rashford’s influence to a minimum, until England attacker suddenly bagged himself two goals in nine minutes as Arsenal’s back line was ripped apart. Getty

Oleksandr Zinchenko 6: Up against a bag of tricks in United new boy Antony. Forced to cover for Gabriel and pulled out of position himself ahead of Brazilian’s opener. Getty

Albert Sambi Lokonga 6: Neat and tidy, combining with Xhaka to do the donkey work and help Odegaard pull strings and control game for an hour. But Arsenal completely lost control of midfield after second United goal. EPA

Granit Xhaka 6: Had produced impressive show in middle of park until Arsenal made triple substitution and team completely lost shape. Made right mess of pass near touchline at 3-1 down that almost resulted in United scoring again. Reuters

Bukayo Saka 8: Nice through ball to Martinelli before attacker’s early goal was disallowed. Left Malacia for dead with one surging first-half run. Pulled shot across face of goal just after break but made no mistake on the hour with goal that had been coming. Late booking for foul on Malacia was sign of Arsenal frustration. Getty

Martin Odegaard 7: Captain bundled over Eriksen at start of move that resulted in Martinell’s goal being chalked off. Sprayed the ball around superbly in midfield as Gunners dominated large sections of game. PA

Gabriel Martinelli 7: Could have had first-half hat-trick. Showed cool head to finish after 12 minutes but goal disallowed after VAR check. Had shot and header saved by De Gea. AFP

Gabriel Jesus 8: Taunted with “City reject” chants from home fans from first minute but led the line superbly and caused United’s defence constant problems. Best player on pitch for 65 minutes until Arsenal lost all shape and capitulated. AFP

SUBS: Emile Smith Rowe (On for Odegaard 74’) 4: One of three attacking substitutions by Mikel Arteta that left Arsenal totally open at the back. Reuters

Fabio Vieira (On for Zinchenko 74’) 4: Volleyed one shot well over bar from edge of box.

Eddie Nketiah (On for Sambi Lokonga 74’) 4: No chance to make impact. AP

Takehiro Tomayisu (On for White 80’) N/A. AFP

It must help that you both speak Portuguese.

It makes it easier when you speak because it comes more naturally, but we want to build a relationship between every player on the pitch and not only on the pitch but in every single training session. We want to keep this coordination between players as much as we can, so whoever is on the pitch we have a good relationship – with Antony or another winger.

Are the players fighting a bit more?

I think it comes from the messages the manager passes to us, but the main point has been from ourselves. To be at this club you have to fight for it, you have to fight for 90 minutes every single game and this is what we are trying to do, then I think the quality will come up. But the basics, the standards of the club are like this and if we continue to do this for a big period of time I think we will get success. But we know it's a marathon, not a sprint, this is going to be a long season and we need all the little points, the wins to build momentum and today was a beautiful afternoon.

You were up against a quality Arsenal side.

We knew this was going to be a tough game. Arsenal, it was not by chance that they won the first five games. Today we showed we needed to be a team to win against such a good team and we deserved the three points.

Bruno Fernandes seems to have rediscovered something. Have you noticed it?

He's a confident player, we know we need to bring everyone up and after the two games we didn't win, we tried to motivate each other a little bit more and you can see it on the pitch. We need to keep going, not only Bruno but everyone will show the quality they have and for the greater good, which is for the team.