An all-star Manchester United side breezed past Swansea City to record their second 4-0 victory in as many games.
The emphatic win saw the visitors retain their place at the summit of the Premier League with six points, closely followed by newcomers Huddersfield who only trail United by goal difference.
Although nearly six players put up a Man of the Match performance, one man stood head and shoulder above the rest: Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The Armenian was at his glittering best at the Liberty Stadium as he provided two assists, taking his tally to four in just two outings.
Time factor
While I may serve the risk of sounding cliché by suggesting that time heals, time equally helps in bridging confidence.
Such was the case for Henrikh Mkhitaryan whose life at the northwest of England was less than salubrious last season. The intensity of the Premier League proved too much for the midfielder, none more so than against Manchester City during the first half of the season.
His first taste of the Manchester derby was a bitter pill to swallow, as he failed to live up to the mark despite Jose Mourinho’s belief in him.
Although the United gaffer was by and large to blame for the knee jerk decision to start the Armenian in such a demanding encounter, it’s safe to say the 28-year old has adapted to life in the Premier League.
Star-studded
You’re only as good as the people you work with and for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the plethora of talent around him was always poised to eventually pay off.
As if having Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera wasn’t enough, the inculcation of Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku has seemingly, if not assuredly, brought the best out of the midfielder.
Having already quadrupled his assists account from last season, we surely haven’t seen the last of the Manchester United playmaker.
Good team spirit
Whether it’s on the pitch, on the train or in the dressing room, an all-inclusive pre-season helped transform United into a tight knit unit.
The high spirit in the camp has translated to blistering performances on the turf, which Mkhitaryan has openly admitted its importance not just to his personal confidence but overall performance of the team.
Written by Brian Humphrey
Follow Brian on Twitter @brihum
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