3 years ago
39
ARTICLE AD BOX
Eddie Nketiah scored Arsenal's equaliser in the first half after Manchester United had taken the lead through Marcus RashfordArsenal retained control of the Premier League title race after Eddie Nketiah's 90th-minute winner gave them a dramatic victory over Manchester United in a thriller at Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City's earlier win over Wolverhampton Wanderers applied pressure on the Gunners but they responded with character and quality, even after going behind, to secure a five-point advantage at the top with a game in hand.
United's man of the moment Marcus Rashford fired home a superb right-foot strike from 25 yards to give them a 17th-minute lead.
Arsenal responded fiercely and were level seven minutes later when Granit Xhaka's cross created a heading opportunity for Nketiah, who got in ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the far post.
Bukayo Saka's angled drive put Arsenal ahead eight minutes after the break but their advantage lasted only six minutes, with Lisandro Martinez heading his first goal for the club after keeper Aaron Ramsdale dropped a corner.
Arsenal looked the more likely winners in the closing stages, with Saka hitting the post and Nketiah denied by David de Gea's outstanding save.
The pressure paid off in the closing moments when Nketiah - a striker who is doing an outstanding job filling in for injured Gabriel Jesus - turned in from close range to spark wild scenes of celebration at Emirates Stadium.
- How did you rate Arsenal's performance? Have your say here
- What did you make of Manchester United's display? Send us your views here
Unstoppable Arsenal roll on
The celebrations on and off the pitch at the final whistle showed the huge significance of Nketiah's late winner.
A draw would hardly have been disastrous for Arsenal coming against Erik ten Hag's improving Manchester United - but the whole mood was lifted sky high by Nketiah's last-gasp intervention.
Aware Manchester City were on their shoulders after beating Wolves, Arsenal's nerve was further tested when Rashford's golden run continued and he put United ahead.
Arsenal responded with the intensity and quality that has marked their game on their route to the top of the table - ordered and composed; still creating chances until Nketiah settled matters.
Saka and captain Martin Odegaard are creating chances and threat, while Nketiah is ensuring the absence of Gabriel Jesus - which many feared would seriously sabotage the Gunners' title challenge - is not stopping them winning matches.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Arsenal
Squad number1Player nameRamsdale- Squad number4Player nameWhite
- Squad number12Player nameSaliba
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
- Squad number35Player nameZinchenko
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
- Squad number5Player namePartey
Squad number34Player nameXhaka- Squad number7Player nameSaka
- Squad number14Player nameNketiah
- Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
Squad number16Player nameHolding- Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu
- Squad number19Player nameTrossard
Manchester United
Squad number1Player namede Gea- Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka
- Squad number19Player nameVarane
- Squad number6Player nameLi Martínez
Squad number23Player nameShaw- Squad number14Player nameEriksen
Squad number39Player nameMcTominay- Squad number21Player nameAntony
- Squad number8Player nameBruno Fernandes
Squad number10Player nameRashford- Squad number27Player nameWeghorst
Squad number17Player nameFred- Squad number49Player nameGarnacho
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 4WhiteBooked at 19minsSubstituted forTomiyasuat 45'minutes
- 12Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 35Zinchenko
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forHoldingat 90+3'minutes
- 5Partey
- 34Xhaka
- 7Saka
- 14Nketiah
- 11MartinelliSubstituted forTrossardat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Tierney
- 10Smith Rowe
- 16Holding
- 18Tomiyasu
- 19Trossard
- 21Fábio Vieira
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 27Marquinhos
- 30Turner
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 19VaraneSubstituted forGarnachoat 90+2'minutes
- 6Li Martínez
- 23ShawBooked at 83mins
- 14Eriksen
- 39McTominay
- 21AntonyBooked at 47minsSubstituted forFredat 71'minutes
- 8Bruno Fernandes
- 10Rashford
- 27Weghorst
Substitutes
- 2Lindelöf
- 5Maguire
- 12Malacia
- 17Fred
- 22Heaton
- 28Pellistri
- 36Elanga
- 49Garnacho
- 73Mainoo
Referee:Anthony Taylor
Attendance:60,325
Live Text
Match ends, Arsenal 3, Manchester United 2.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Manchester United 2.
Substitution, Arsenal. Rob Holding replaces Martin Ødegaard.
Substitution, Manchester United. Alejandro Garnacho replaces Raphaël Varane.
VAR Decision: Goal Arsenal - Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United (Eddie Nketiah).
Goal! Arsenal 3, Manchester United 2. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.Goal confirmed following VAR Review.
Attempt missed. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Oleksandr Zinchenko with a cross.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United).
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.
Attempt blocked. Christian Eriksen (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
David de Gea (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Attempt saved. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Luke Shaw (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, Arsenal. Leandro Trossard replaces Gabriel Martinelli.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
English (US) ·