Arsenal and Manchester United played out an absorbing five-goal Premier League encounter at Emirates Stadium on Sunday which keeps the Gunners five points clear at the summit. Mikel Arteta's men left it late to seal a 3-2 win with Eddie Nketiah the hero with a double.
Marcus Rashford's superb opener was canceled out by Nketiah's header in the first half and Bukayo Saka's sublime second-half strike was quickly leveled by Lisandro Martinez's header. Nketiah then turned hero as his instinctive finish was validated by VAR to claim all three points for the hosts.
Erik ten Hag's men remain behind Newcastle United in fourth while Mikel Arteta's side keep a five-point advantage over Manchester City, but this one was a Premier League classic regardless of the standings. Arsenal made a fast start to the encounter, but it was United who could have had a penalty early on when Bruno Fernandes went down after beating Aaron Ramsdale to a through ball.
That was the home side's warning and they did not heed that as Rashford produced a moment of trickery followed by an excellent low strike after 17 minutes to give the Red Devils the lead. Rashford's post-FIFA 2022 World Cup form has been scintillating with United and it continued here with a brilliant goal to silence the Emirates home support.
They were not quiet for long, though, with Nketiah heading home Granit Xhaka's ball in to pull the hosts level just seven minutes after Rashford's opener. It was a well-worked goal and no less than Arsenal deserved after a good start which could have easily produced an early goal, but Ramsdale had to be alert to keep Scott McTominay out before the break.
Martinez denied Xhaka early in the second half with a superb tackle, but there was nothing that any of his United teammates could do about the moment of magic from Saka just eight minutes into the second half. The England international unleashed a stunning left-footed effort to level Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg with three consecutive scoring appearances against United.
We were all level by the hour mark, though, as a Christian Eriksen corner was only half cleared by Ramsdale and Martinez's lopping header dropped in to silence the home crowd again. Martin Odegaard was denied a chance to make it 3-2 with a good block and Leandro Trossard was thrown on for his debut late on, but it took a late instinctive finish from Nketiah to seal the win.
What a big result that could prove to be. The Gunners stay five points clear at the summit and United fail to come back once more in a game that had everything required to be a modern classic. Nketiah with a heroic double which could be worth its weight in gold come the end of the season.
Nketiah might have won this for the Gunners! The VAR check says it is a goal and Arteta's men have snatched this at the death.
Arsenal's new signing from Brighton and Hove Albion is now on for his debut in place of Gabriel Martinelli. Can the Belgium international mark it with a memorable winner?
We are heading into the final quarter of an hour and this game has delivered and then some. Rashford's opener canceled out by Nketiah, Saka's strike then leveled by Martinez -- some superb strikes in there too. Is there a final twist in this one at the Emirates, or will it finish all square?
You cannot turn away from this one for a single moment. United pull level just minutes after Saka gave Arsenal the lead! Martinez levels for the Red Devils as the Gunners suffer from a set piece. Seven minutes between the first two goals and just six minutes between this pair! Arteta will not be happy with that, though, Eriksen's ball in half cleared by Ramsdale and Martinez's looping header drops in.
The home side go ahead. Saka with the goal! Another superb strike in a game with some very good goals already. Saka continues his hot form against United and levels with Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg who scored in three consecutive encounters between these two.
This one has picked up where it left off with the game at a great pace. We have already had a penalty shout when Gabriel went down, but nothing given. Strap in for a mouthwatering final 30 or so!
You cannot take your eyes off of this one. Nketiah's leveler after Rashford's opener has the two teams tied at the break. However, the hosts started well before the visitors took the lead. They have also more settled since the equalizer. It feels like this could go either way in the next 45 minutes. Follow all the action here!
Approaching the break and this one has been a great watch so far. Level pegging with both sides capable of going back in front. Strong response from Arsenal after falling behind despite a good start of their own.
Nketiah heads home to pull the hosts level. What an opening 25 minutes or so this has been! Rashford's opener did not have United ahead for long. Xhaka's ball in is headed home by Nketiah which raises the roof at the Emirates.
United's England international is undoubtedly the main in the best form post-World Cup as his hot streak continues with his ninth goal across all competitions since Qatar.
Marcus Rashford puts the Red Devils ahead! What a big moment this could be in the Premier League title race. Superb low strike from outside of the box to silence the Emirates' home support. Arsenal will be kicking themselves after they made a purposeful start.
Arsenal get a warning there. Fernandes got onto the through ball and beat Ramsdale to it before going down. No penalty given and VAR agrees with the initial decision, but a reminder for the Gunners that United are also a team in form.
We have kick-off at Emirates Stadium with Arsenal vs. United now underway. A big one this, especially after City's win over Wolves. Can the Gunners restore their cushion at the summit, or will the title race tighten up? These are 90 big minutes coming up for both sides. Arsenal are fast out of the traps and win an early flurry of corners as the Red Devils struggle to get a foothold early on.
Bukayo Saka has scored in his last two outings against United which can only be bettered by Thierry henry and Freddie Ljungberg who scored in three consecutive encounters. The in-form Marcus Rashford boasts four goals and four assists from 10 Premier League starts against Arsenal while Gabriel Martinelli has six goals and four assists from his last 10 appearances at Emirates Stadium.
The big news is that Leandro Trossard starts on the Arsenal bench and that Mikel Arteta goes with the same XI which beat Tottenham Hotspur last week. Erik ten Hag brings Scott McTominay in for the suspended Casemiro.
Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah.
Bench: Turner, Tierney, Smith Rowe, Holding, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Vieira, Sambi Lokonga and Marquinhos.
Man Utd XI: De Gea; Wan Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; McTominay, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.
Bench: Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho, Mainoo.
Thank you for joining our coverage of Arsenal vs. Manchester United in the Premier League this Sunday. We will have some team news for you shortly from Emirates Stadium. The Gunners will be hoping to re-establish their five-point lead over Manchester City if this Erling Haaland-inspired lead over Wolverhampton Wanderers holds.
