Manchester United’s 2-3 Loss To Arsenal
Eddie Nketiah’s last-minute goal saw Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 in a thrilling contest at the Emirates as the league leaders restored their five-point advantage over Manchester City.
Marcus Rashford gave United an early lead with a brilliant run and strike, the forward’s ninth goal in nine games in all competitions since the World Cup finished – the most of any player in Europe’s big five leagues.
However, Arsenal soon levelled through Nketiah, whose powerful close-range header made it 18 goals in his last 26 starts for the club, an impressive run that includes 12 goals in his last 13 starts at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s side went ahead for the first time thanks to Bukayo Saka’s fizzing drive from distance eight minutes into the second half.
Eddie Nketiah scores Arsenal's winner in their 3-2 victory over Manchester United.
But United were back on level terms six minutes later as Lisandro Martinez scored his first goal for United, the Argentina World Cup winner taking advantage of Aaron Ramsdale’s mistake to float a header into the net.
But there was late, late drama as Nketiah touched home Martin Odegaard’s mishit shot and, after a tense check for offside by the Video Assistant Referee, the roof came off the Emirates.
As a result, Arsenal restore their five-point lead over second-placed City, who had beaten Wolves 3-0 earlier in the day, while United remain fourth in the table and now lie 11 points off the leaders, who also have a game in hand on their title rivals.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Ramsdale (6), White (6), Saliba (6), Gabriel (6), Zinchenko (7), Partey (6), Xhaka (8), Odegaard (8), Saka (9), Martinelli (7), Nketiah (8)
Subs: Holding (6), Tomiyasu (6), Trossard (6)
Man Utd: De Gea (8), Wan-Bissaka (8), Varane (7), Martinez (7), Shaw (7), McTominay (7), Eriksen (6), Fernandes (6), Antony (6), Rashford (8), Weghorst (6)
Subs: Fred (6) Garnacho (6)
Man of the match: Bukayo Saka
*How Nketiah kept Arsenal’s title charge on track*
This was a battle of the Premier League’s two most in-form teams and it showed in what was a pulsating contest in the capital that was a throwback to some of the fierce title meetings these arch-rivals used to have on a regular basis in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Marcus Rashford celebrates with Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen after giving Manchester United the lead at Arsenal
United, missing the experience of key Brazil holding midfielder Casemiro through suspension, were put under immense early pressure by the league leaders, only to weather it and then open the scoring after 17 minutes.
The home team carelessly lost the ball, allowing Rashford to pick up possession midway inside the hosts’ half and the England forward nutmegged Thomas Partey before then finding the bottom lefthand corner of the net with a bullet of a 25-yard drive.
