Arsenal vs Man Utd LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Granit Xhaka goal
Follow live reaction after Arsenal beat Manchester United in a big match in the race for the Premier League’s top four
Follow live reaction after Arsenal dealt a blow to Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four Premier League finish as Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka struck in a 3-1 win that revived the home side’s chances of Champions League football next season.
Arsenal were rewarded for their blistering early pace as Tavares tapped home in the third minute after United goalkeeper David de Gea pushed away a curling effort by Saka, following some poor defending by the visitors at the Emirates. Saka doubled the Gunners’ lead from the penalty spot after a foul on the winger in the build-up to a disallowed goal by Eddie Nketiah. Nketiah’s strike was ruled offside by the Video Assistant Referee.
United’s sluggish display overshadowed fleeting moments in which they threatened and was another reminder of the challenge facing incoming manager Erik ten Hag, though the visitors got one back as Cristiano Ronaldo swept in Nemanja Matic’s cross. The Portuguese forward’s 100th Premier League goal came after a traumatic week personally for the player after the death of one of his newborn twin babies.
United improved after the restart but their woes deepened as skipper Bruno Fernandes hit the post with a poor effort from the penalty spot following Tavares’ handball, before a 70th-minute thunderbolt from Xhaka sealed the win for the Gunners.
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, 70 mins
United are screaming for an equaliser and their frustration at being held is shown with a scuffle between McTominay and Gabriel in the box.
There’s been a yellow card for Xhaka as he hits the ball into the stands, a silly one to give away. That is his 50th yellow card for Arsenal, a huge stat.
And another yellow card is handed out, this time for Tavares who pulls Elanga’s shirt. The BT Sport cameras are picking up United supporters on the mic with shouts of ‘get him off’. I don’t think we’re quite at a red card stage, yet.
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, 65 mins
The VAR have confirmed the shot was offside, it was a lot tighter than I initially thought but his right leg strays offside.
Ronaldo goes down with injury but he is thankfully back on his feet. Cedric strays offside and so United are on the build again.
Ronaldo lays off the ball to Dalot who has a huge chance! Ramsdale manages to push it onto the post, so close! The visitors are edging closer to the equaliser but Arsenal are doing well to keep their lead.
The Gunners make the first changes as Smith Rowe is off for Martinelli.
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, 60 mins
I am dumbfounded that he has missed that. The confidence the team showed in him to choose Fernandes over Ronaldo and then he overthinks and tries to be too clever!
Elanga has a shot shortly aftet the miss but Ramsdale does enough to thrwart it. He does concede a corner though. The ball is pinging around and eventually Tavares manages to get it away. United are still in possession and Ronaldo looked as though he scored but he was offside.
United are hungry to equalise here. VAR will check it but he is offside so this goal probbaly won’t stand.
PENALTY MISS! Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
Surprisingly Fernandes is stepping up to take the kick over Ronaldo.
He’s had a howler! He hits it soft and it hits the post, Ronaldo goes over to comfort his teammate. How has he missed that?! Ramsdale goes the wrong way and he should’ve smashed that home.
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, 55 mins
Nketiah creates a good opportunity for Tavares but the ball bends away from goal. The first chance of the half goes to nothing.
McTominay fouls Xhaka and Arsenal take a free kick. Xhaka curls the ball in but Telles heads away, it comes back out for Saka who’s chance goes wide.
The England international hit a boot getting that ball away but he has ran the pain off.
McTominay is in trouble again as he fouls Gabriel in his own half. Another long spell of Arsenal pressure ends at the feet of De Gea.
Now United have a free kick as White fouls Sancho. The ball is pinged around and it ends with a United corner.
Fernandes takes the kick and he awards a penalty as Tavares handballs!
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, 50 mins
It’s been a slow start to the second half but Arsenal have had the lion share of possession.
A long spell with the ball ends with the Gunners running th eball out of play for a goal kick.
United are now looking to build but in the action Fernandes went down injured. He got back to his feet but he seems to be clutching his hip.
Back underway! Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
The action at the Emirates is back underway.
Can Arsenal hold off United? Or will the visitors find a winner?
Half-time: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
Do you think this was a penalty?
Some people are saying it was soft but Telles does make contact with Saka in the box.
Have a look:
Half-time: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
Well what a half of football!
Tavares got the scoring underway with an early goal but United didn’t fade away after conceding.
They created chances but it was Arsenal who doubled their lead with a penalty from Saka.
But Ronaldo wasn’t going to let it be the Gunners having the only say as he hit a one touch finish to put United back into it. It was also the star’s 100th Premier League goal.
We are in for a huge second half. More of the same please!
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, 45 + 3 mins
There’s five minutes added to this thrilling half.
Odegaard whips the ball in but it doesn’t find a teammate. The Gunners are seeing out this half with style, having the majority of possession and chances.
Ramsdale feels the pressure from Ronaldo as Cedric passes back to the keeper who’s clearance is sloppy.
Telles gets a great shot away and Ramsdale saves well. Cedric then kicks it out of play for a corner. Fernandes gets a shot away but Arsenal block and they counter.
Odegaard gets a shot away with De Gea forced to make a save! I can’t type fast enough to keep up with this, unbelievable bit of football.
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