When requested in regards to the right-back’s productiveness in his post-match press convention, United supervisor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enthused: “I feel Aaron’s improved, particularly on the ball. He is giving us an increasing number of on the ball.
“[He made] a number of one-twos at the moment, creating possibilities and it was nice build-up play with a run and cross for Anthony’s objective.”
As if to mark the passing of a baton, it was Shaw who supplied the ultimate first-half raid into Villa’s territory. Initially amassing the ball on the midway line, the left-back acquired it once more from Paul Pogba after surging additional up the pitch after which shrugged off a problem from Bertrand Traore to drive a nook with a low cross.