Manchester United vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Relive all the action from Old Trafford as Michael Carrick oversaw his final game as interim manager
Cristiano Ronaldo reached 800 career goals as his brace secured Manchester United a much-needed victory against Arsenal as interim manager Ralf Rangnick saw his new side triumph from the stands.
A lot has changed at Old Trafford since their last home game 26 days ago, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer losing his job after that loss to Manchester City was compounded by a shocking defeat at Watford.
United coach Michael Carrick has steadied the ship during an unbeaten three-match caretaker stint that ended with an entertaining 3-2 victory against Arsenal at a bouncing Old Trafford.
It was only their second win in nine Premier League games and a timely shot in the arm ahead of Rangnick’s first game in charge against Crystal Palace this Sunday.
The German has signed a deal until the end of the season and Thursday’s match will have given him food for thought, having seen the quality and ongoing concerns first hand from the directors’ box.
Finding a way to keep clean sheets will be key if this season is to be a success for United, although there was little that could be done to prevent Emile Smith Rowe’s bizarre opener.
David De Gea was rolling around in pain when the Arsenal youngster struck, with the VAR instructing referee Martin Atkinson to award the goal as it was the Spaniard’s team-mate Fred that hurt the goalkeeper.
Bruno Fernandes, making his 100th United appearance, levelled before half-time, with Ronaldo turning home Marcus Rashford’s cross to bring up 800 goals for club and country early in the second half.
But Arsenal took just two minutes to bring this helter-skelter clash back level as Martin Odegaard found the net with a low finish - good work undone 16 minutes later by his rash challenge on Fred inside the box.
Atkinson awarded the penalty after the VAR advised he watch the pitchside monitor, with Ronaldo keeping his cool in front of the Stretford End to lash home what proved to be the winner. Relive all the action below:
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
90+2 mins: Tavares feeds the ball to Saka who delivers a cross into the box from the left. Lacazette is the target but Maguire gets to it first. Arsenal recover the ball and swing a cross into the back post. Gabriel wins the header and knocks it down but United carry it out of the penalty area and win a free kick.
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
90 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes are off for Man Utd with Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek brought on to close out this game.
Five minutes of added time to play. Plenty of time for another goal.
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
88 mins: Saka brings a cross down on the right side of the United box and his shot is knocked behind by a sliding Fred. Saka himself takes the corner but Ronaldo heads it clear. The ball comes to Sancho who breaks past the Arsenal midfield and sprints up the pitch. Ronaldo and Fernandes fly up with him so Sancho plays it inside and Fernandes’ effort is sent out of play by a back-tracking Tomiyasu.
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
86 mins: Arsenal pen United deep in their own half but a clearance down the left wing from Telles stays in play and frees Lingard to sweep down the pitch. He carries the ball into the box but has no options up with him. Instead he eases away from Partey and shoots with a weak left-foot leaving Ramsdale with an easy save.
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
83 mins: Arsenal are going for it. This game doesn’t feel over, the atmosphere seems to be building to another goal. Saka squeezes the ball out to Elneny who knocks it across to Tavares. He passes it back to Gabriel who’s immediately put under pressure by Ronaldo. The Man Utd striker scrambles to the ball and begins to break way before the whistle goes and he’s penalised for a foul on the Arsenal defender.
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
80 mins: Changes! Jesse Lingard comes on to replace Marcus Rashford with Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette on in place of Martin Odegaard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
78 mins: Save! Tomiyasu whips a cross into the box and it deflects off Fred before dropping to Martinelli. He shoots on the half-volley but scuffs the effort and it bobbles into the path of Aubameyang. He pokes it at goal but De Gea gets in behind the ball and clings on to the shot!
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
75 mins: Odegaard’s free kick is curled into the box and Lindelof is there to head it behind for an Arsenal corner. The set piece is cleared by the home side and Rashford flies down the pitch. He dribbles into the box and tries to create space to shoot. KJust as he’s about to let fly Elneny nips across and takes the ball off him.
Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal
72 mins: Bukayo Saka has come on to replace Emile Smith Rowe. Martinelli has moved over to the left wing with Saka positioned on the left. His first involvement wins Arsenal a free kick in a dangerous area, on the inside right just out from goal.
GOAL! Man Utd 3 - 2 Arsenal (Ronaldo, 70’)⚽️
70 mins: Ronaldo blasts the spot kick straight down the middle as Ramsdale dives to his left. He’s got two tonight and Manchester United are back in front. What a game.
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