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Eddie Nketiah scored a 90th minute winner for Arsenal in a thrilling 3-2 win over Manchester United
Arsenal re-established their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after a 3-2 win over Manchester United at the Emirates stadium.
With Manchester City, who beat Wolves 3-0 earlier in the day to cut the gap at the top of the table to two points, hot on Arsenal’s tails, every game between now and the end of the season is crucial to the Gunners’ hopes of clinching the title for the first time in 19 years.
United, meanwhile, came into the clash on the back of an unbeaten ten-game run, winning nine, and looked more than up for the fight.
Action-packed first half
The Red Devils took the lead shortly after the quarter-hour mark thanks to a moment of magic from the in-form Marcus Rashford.
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Picking the ball up in the middle of the park, the England international slipped the ball through the legs of Thomas Partey, set himself up, and fired a bullet of a strike into the bottom corner.
Arsenal responded by pressing United high up the pitch and won a corner that led, eventually, to Granit Xhaka coaxing a sweet cross onto Nketiah’s forehead to tie the game at 1-1.
After the break, Arsenal again began quickly, and on 53 minutes, Saka curled home a delicious low finish from 20 yards.
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United immediately stepped it up, quickened their tempo, and got an immediate result. Lisandro Martinez rose high to head home his first goal for the club shortly after.
Nketiah's late winner
The home side threw everything at their opponents in search of a winner. Saka hit the post with a deflected effort and Nketiah forced De Gea into an instinctive save as it looked as though United would stand firm.
However, with less than 60 seconds of normal time remaining, Nketiah poked home at the back post to clinch a vital three points.
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It will not be the last classic match between these two young, improving sides, but at the moment it is Arsenal who are title contenders while United still have work to do.
Talking point - United undone by another late goal
For the second time in a week, Manchester United conceded a late goal that cost them dearly. Against Palace, they were victims of their own circumspection, opting to sit on a one-goal lead and getting caught out.
Against Arsenal and in the absence of Casemiro, they were ultimately overrun in midfield and the pressure exerted on their defence proved to be too much in the end.
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