In front of a boisterous Emirates crowd on Sunday, Arsenal made a huge statement about its Premier League intentions by coming from behind to defeat in-form Manchester United 3-2.
Marcus Rashford of United silenced the home crowd with the game’s first goal, but Eddie Nketiah’s equalizer and Bukayo Saka’s spectacular second-half goal turned the game around.
The Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez headed in after Arsenal failed to clear a corner, leveling the tense game for the visitors, who had been dangerous on the break throughout.
In the 90th minute, Nketiah turned the ball home to give the Gunners a goal they deserved after pouring forward in search of a victory.
With loan signing Wout Weghorst once more leading the line, Scott McTominay took the place of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who was ineligible after receiving his fifth booking of the year in United’s midweek draw with Crystal Palace.
Leandro Trossard, a late-week addition to Arsenal from Brighton, was forced to make do with a spot on the bench as Mikel Arteta named an unchanged lineup.
Arsenal faith
At the Emirates, there is a growing sense of optimism that the Gunners will finally end their lengthy wait for the Premier League championship, which they have not achieved since 2004.
Thomas Partey barely missed the target as Arsenal charged forward as they exploded out of the gate.
Rashford, who was assisted by Bruno Fernandes, skipped past Partey with ease and fired a low shot from 25 yards into the corner of the net to give United the lead in the 17th minute.
Just seven minutes later, Granit Xhaka’s cross was nodded in by Arsenal’s in-form Nketiah after Aaron Wan-Bissaka slipped at the back post.
The home team was now pressing forward with increased vigor, but United came dangerously close to regaining the lead when McTominay forced a diving save from Aaron Ramsdale.
When Arteta’s emotions got the better of him just after the half-hour mark, referee Anthony Taylor issued him a booking, but the first half ended with a draw despite few clear-cut opportunities.
After the break, Arsenal was once more the first to threaten, pressing forward in search of a second goal before taking the lead in the 53rd minute.
Saka of England moved the ball to his left foot and drilled a precise shot past David de Gea from outside the box into the United goal as Christian Eriksen defended him.
However, a thrilling match took a new turn when United equalized just six minutes later.
Lisandro Martinez threw himself at the loose ball after a United corner, and he headed it into the goal with a looping header.
As De Gea anxiously watched, Arsenal recovered, and Saka nearly repeated his goal but hit the post.
Nketiah fired a close-range shot at De Gea as time ran out, and United struggled to maintain sustained possession of the ball.
Nketiah’s second goal of the game gave Arsenal all three points after a thorough VAR review determined that he was onside, saving United from holding out for a draw.
