Arsenal diminished Liverpool’s lead on the high of the Premier League to seven factors with an important win in opposition to Manchester United on the Emirates Stadium.
After Fabian Schär’s late equaliser denied Liverpool victory at St James’ Park, Mikel Arteta’s crew have been provided the possibility to inch nearer to the summit.
And the Gunners didn’t disappoint with Jurriën Timber and William Saliba each scoring from corners within the second half to offer the hosts with a win that stored their title hopes alive.
After following up a draw at Ipswich with dwelling victories in opposition to Bodø/Glimt and Everton, Ruben Amorim warned that his unbeaten begin to life at Previous Trafford could possibly be unsettled by a “storm”. Nonetheless, the opening interval on the Emirates was a turgid affair. Gabriel Martinelli had the ball within the internet after simply 4 minutes however Kai Havertz was clearly offside within the buildup.
A quintet queued up on the far put up for considered one of 4 Arsenal corners within the first half. The prospect arrived on the entrance put up, however Thomas Partey was unable to get something substantial on Declan Rice’s supply – the ball dropping harmlessly broad.
Arsenal’s greatest likelihood of the primary interval arrived with half-hour gone when Martinelli thrashed Oleksandr Zinchenko’s blocked effort broad.
Moments later, the hosts needed a penalty when Bukayo Saka’s cross struck Harry Maguire on the thigh. Regardless of Arsenal hogging the possibilities, one of the best effort of the primary 45 fell to United as Diogo Dalot flashed his shot throughout David Raya’s purpose when he actually ought to have examined the Spaniard.
Two minutes into the second interval and Martinelli had the house crowd on their toes when he discovered area on the left-hand facet, however the Brazilian’s effort deflected off Maguire and into André Onana’s arms. Sixty seconds later and Rice’s shot cannoned off Mason Mount for a nook.
Arsenal had signalled their intent and inside 9 minutes of the second half beginning, that they had their breakthrough. Timber leaned into Rasmus Højlund on the entrance put up earlier than diverting Rice’s set-piece into the again of Onana’s internet. Saka then drew a low save from Onana with the house crowd sensing blood.
On got here the cavalry for United, with Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee – each benched after netting a double every in opposition to Everton final Sunday – launched on the hour mark. And the latter’s first contact almost ended up in his personal internet when his header, from one other Rice nook, zipped throughout his personal purpose.
United didn’t have a solution. The storm Amorim predicted had duly arrived. However in opposition to the run of play, the guests have been virtually on degree phrases with 66 minutes gone.
A drained Zinchenko hacked down Amad Diallo, and from the following set-piece, Raya produced a world-class flying save to claw out Matthijs De Ligt’s header along with his left claw. And simply seven minutes later, Arsenal doubled their benefit.
Partey discovered himself unmarked on the again put up from Saka’s nook, and his header deflected in off Saliba’s shoulder.
It marked Arsenal’s twenty second purpose from a nook for the reason that begin of final season. No facet within the division can boast extra. Arteta and the membership’s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover embraced on the touchline as Amorim was left along with his head in his fingers.
Havertz might need put the sport out of sight on the restart solely to fireside his effort at Onana earlier than the substitute Mikel Merino’s header from Saka’s nook drifted simply broad.
Nevertheless it didn’t matter for the Gunners who noticed out the three factors with ease and condemned Amorim to his first defeat as United boss.
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