Arsenal stepped up their claims for a place in the Premier League’s top four at the expense of Manchester United’s ambitions in a thriller at Emirates Stadium.
And Arsenal took three crucial points as the visitors paid the price for shambolic defending and a missed penalty by Bruno Fernandes that undermined an enterprising attacking display.
Nuno Tavares put Arsenal in front after only three minutes following errors from Raphael Varane and Alex Telles, the defender turning in a simple finish after David de Gea saved Bukayo Saka’s shot.
Eddie Nketiah then had an effort ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside but after being called to look at his pitchside monitor the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Telles on Saka immediately before Nketiah’s shot, and Saka converted from the spot.
United were a real danger in attack, the returning Cristiano Ronaldo deservedly pulling a goal back before the break for his 100th Premier League goal.
It set the scene for a United siege, only for Fernandes to waste their big chance by carelessly rolling a second-half spot-kick against the post after Tavares handled.
Arsenal cashed in on the reprieve when Granit Xhaka sealed the win by lashing home the Gunners’ third from 25 yards with 20 minutes remaining.
Winning week for Arsenal
Arsenal’s win completed a superb response to three league losses that had jeopardised their top-four hopes.
Mikel Arteta’s side had to fight through adversity – they were not convincing defensively and had several escapes – but they seized their chances when they came to take full advantage of United’s carelessness in front of goal.
Tavares gave them the perfect start and while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale had a mixed afternoon, he also made some crucial saves, one from Telles early on and another from Diogo Dalot proving significant.
But Xhaka’s thumping drive gave De Gea no chance and there was a real mood of celebration inside Emirates Stadium at the final whistle.
Arsenal have inflicted serious damage on any slim hopes United may have had of reaching the top four while maintaining the pressure on north London rivals Tottenham in the battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
United misery continues
While Manchester United’s performance bore no resemblance to the embarrassing capitulation at Liverpool, the end result was still the same and their hopes of taking a place in next season’s Champions League are fading fast.
They are now six points behind Arsenal, having played a game more and with only four league matches left.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has become increasingly outspoken about their failings, likening what needs to be done at Old Trafford under new manager Erik ten Hag to “open heart surgery”.
He rang the changes here, dropping Harry Maguire after a traumatic week in which the United captain not only suffered a nightmare display at Liverpool but also had to cope with police conducting a sweep of his home after a bomb threat.
It did not have the desired effect as United were let down by defensive frailty despite a performance that contained real menace going forward.
United were also left complaining bitterly when they were not awarded a first-half penalty after Cedric Soares appeared to handle. Dalot twice struck the woodwork and Ramsdale was called into action often, so the commitment could not be questioned here.
There was much that was good about United’s display but the decisive moment was that second-half penalty miss by Fernandes with Arsenal hanging on desperately at 2-1.
He went through an elaborate jig before carelessly rolling his spot-kick against the post. In that moment Arsenal were reprieved and United struggling, before Xhaka finished them off.
Player of the match
SakaBukayo Saka
Arsenal
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Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
8.01
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Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating
7.90
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Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
7.85
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Squad number25Player nameMohamed ElnenyAverage rating
7.46
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Squad number30Player nameNketiahAverage rating
7.22
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Squad number10Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
7.05
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Squad number16Player nameHoldingAverage rating
7.04
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Squad number18Player nameTomiyasuAverage rating
7.04
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Squad number32Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
6.95
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Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
6.95
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Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
6.89
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Squad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
6.85
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Squad number17Player nameCédric SoaresAverage rating
6.45
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Squad number20Player nameNuno TavaresAverage rating
6.32
Manchester United
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Squad number7Player nameCristiano RonaldoAverage rating
6.49
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Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating
5.33
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Squad number25Player nameSanchoAverage rating
4.45
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Squad number36Player nameElangaAverage rating
4.22
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Squad number20Player nameDiogo DalotAverage rating
3.93
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Squad number31Player nameMaticAverage rating
3.83
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Squad number19Player nameVaraneAverage rating
3.78
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Squad number39Player nameMcTominayAverage rating
3.75
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Squad number8Player nameMataAverage rating
3.72
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Squad number2Player nameLindelöfAverage rating
3.67
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Squad number27Player nameAlex TellesAverage rating
3.41
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Squad number14Player nameLingardAverage rating
3.26
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Squad number18Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
2.82
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Squad number10Player nameRashfordAverage rating
2.78
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Ramsdale
- 17Cédric SoaresSubstituted forTomiyasuat 90+1′minutes
- 4White
- 6Gabriel
- 20TavaresBooked at 68mins
- 25ElnenyBooked at 80mins
- 34XhakaBooked at 67mins
- 7SakaSubstituted forHoldingat 74′minutes
- 8Ødegaard
- 10Smith RoweSubstituted forMartinelliat 64′minutes
- 30Nketiah
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 9Lacazette
- 16Holding
- 18Tomiyasu
- 19Pépé
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 35Martinelli
- 38Azeez
- 69Swanson
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 20Dalot
- 2LindelöfBooked at 82mins
- 19Varane
- 27TellesBooked at 31mins
- 39McTominay
- 31MaticSubstituted forRashfordat 77′minutes
- 36ElangaSubstituted forLingardat 77′minutes
- 18Bruno FernandesBooked at 76minsSubstituted forMataat 84′minutes
- 25Sancho
- 7Cristiano RonaldoBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 3Bailly
- 4Jones
- 5Maguire
- 8Mata
- 10Rashford
- 14Lingard
- 26Henderson
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 75Garnacho Ferreyra
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 60,223
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal 3, Manchester United 1.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Manchester United 1.
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Takehiro Tomiyasu replaces Cédric Soares.
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Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jadon Sancho (Manchester United).
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Substitution, Manchester United. Juan Mata replaces Bruno Fernandes.
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Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).
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Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal).
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Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Anthony Elanga.
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Substitution, Manchester United. Marcus Rashford replaces Nemanja Matic.
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Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Nuno Tavares (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
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