Declan Rice’s first goal for Arsenal and another in the 101st minute from Gabriel Jesus helped the Gunners earn a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
A cracker from Marcus Rashford put United ahead but the visitors immediately threw away their lead as Martin Odegaard arrived on the end of a flowing Gunners move to equalise.
Lisandro Martinez went off injured and was replaced by Harry Maguire while veteran Jonny Evans was also called up late but the visitors couldn’t hold on for a point as Rice controlled Bukayo Saka’s corner and fired in at the near post.
United threw players forward but were left bare at the back when Jesus ran through, sat down one defender and cooly finished beyond Andre Onana.
The win puts Arsenal on ten points, level with Tottenham, Liverpool and West Ham heading into the international break. United are 11th after suffering a second away defeat to a top four rival.
How the game unfolded
Arsenal enjoyed the better of the first 20 minutes, picking their moments to press the ball and win back possession as United struggled to move into the home side’s defensive third.
Kai Havertz was guilty of an awful miss in the centre of the United box, scuffing wide after nice build-up play including a crunching tackle from Declan Rice on Bruno Fernandes. The game just deflated in the following ten minutes before Man Utd clicked into gear with their first forceful foray of the afternoon.
Havertz’s pass was intercepted by Christian Eriksen who quickly galloped forward and slipped in Rashford. The left forward moved into the box and squared up Ben White before reaching to smash a fierce drive which brushed Aaron Ramsdale’s fingertips, bounced off the post and in.
That was Rashford’s first league goal of the season but only 35 seconds of play later, Arsenal were level. A surgical attack carved United open as Martinelli’s nice flick was followed up by Zinchenko’s pass into Nketiah. Martinelli arrived again and teed up captain Odegaard, who picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the box to bring his side level and get the Emirates roaring again.
United enjoyed 55% possession in the first half but only registered three shots to Arsenal’s nine, with the Gunners looking more threatening with their attacking ventures.
That said, the first big opportunity of the second half fell United’s way. Fernandes played in Martial on the left but his shot was blocked by the onrushing Ramsdale. The rebound fell to Rashford but Gabriel recovered to avert the danger with a big challenge.
Havertz looked to have earned Arsenal an opportunity to take the lead when he tumbled over under pressure from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Casemiro. Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot but was soon called over to the pitch-side monitor and decided the contact wasn’t enough to send the former Chelsea man over.
Martinez was struck down by injury and, with Raphael Varane already out of action, Erik ten Hag turned to Harry Maguire for a first league appearance of the season. The substitution was quickly followed by the introduction of Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, signed in the summer from Atalanta, for his first United appearance after recovering from injury.
As the game entered the final ten minutes of regular time, Andre Onana made himself big to deny the emerging Saka a second for Arsenal when the England international was perfectly placed to score.
Alejandro Garnacho surged through on goal from Casemiro’s pass and finished low into the corner. He looked to have won United the game but the VAR call adjudged the Argentinian offside.
Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Fabio Vieira were introduced as Mikel Arteta searched for a third league win of the season and the goal came as late as the Spanish manager could have hoped for.
Saka’s cross found a free Rice at the back post. The midfielder controlled and fired in at the near post with Onana caught somewhat unawares.
United attempted to bring the score back to parity but instead it was Arsenal who grabbed the fourth goal of the game. The home side picked up possession and Fabio Vieira found Jesus who raced clear, shook off Evans with ease and rolled into the far corner