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 1-0 Manchester United, 5 mins
United’s defence fell apart there with back passes missing its target Varane.
A shot came in but De Gea saved. However, the keeper couldn’t get back to also cover Tavares’ shot. Incredible start for Arsenal and a great moment for Tavares who scores his first Gunners goal.
United now in possession to try and get a foot into this match.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United (Tavares, 3’)
Oh no United, the defence have had a howler and Tavares bounces after De Gea is forced to make a save.
What an awful start from the visitors.
Kick-off! Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
Here we go then! Who will improve their chances of securing Champions League qualification?
We will soon find out as the players get underway at the Emirates.
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Both managers have been speaking to BT Sport ahead of the match.
Ralf Rangnick said: “We owe it to ourselves and our supoorters to show the best of us today.
“We [Rangnick and Ronaldo] spoke on the day when he returned to training. He said everything is well, I can play and train again.”
And on Maguire being dropped to the bench: “That [the bomb threat] is not the only reason. He has had a tough week that is why I have decided to give him a break today.”
While Mikel Arteta added: “That game [against Chelsea] is gone. United is where our focus is and we can play in front of our people.”
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has warned Manchester United need “open-heart surgery” if they are to kick on under successor Erik ten Hag.
Placed in interim charge following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit in November, the highly-rated German coach has found it difficult to get a consistent tune out of the Red Devils’ stuttering stars.
Rangnick’s short-term focus comes with a long-term appreciation of what is needed for United, who may have made a “good choice” in appointing Ajax boss Ten Hag as permanent manager but still need to do much more.
“I’m pretty convinced that he’s the best possible coach that you could get right now,” the interim manager said.
Read the full story:
Manchester United need ‘open-heart surgery’, Ralf Rangnick claims
The 63-year-old has not held back about the chasm to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Well what a cracking match we have on our hands this afternoon.
It’s a battle for the top four match with the Gunners just three points ahead of the Red Devils.
But it is Arsenal who will feel more confident heading into the fixture. They defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this week while United fell to a 4-0 loss to Liverpool.
Arsenal could temporarily move into fourth with a win over United as Tottenham are playing at 5.30pm.
It will put pressure on their rivals if they bag three points as Spurs would then have to defeat Brentford to reclaim the Champions League spot.
Everything will play out at the Emirates in 20 minutes time.
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Ralf Rangnick will still be in charge of United for the remainder of the season as they look to usurp Arsenal in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Asked directly about Ten Hag’s appointment, Arteta added: “I think he’s been really good, what he did a couple of years ago in the Champions League, especially the way his teams play. It’s a Man United decision, there’s nothing more to say.
“For us there is no impact (on Saturday’s fixture), for them I don’t know what’s going to happen but for us nothing changes.”
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Pogba is one of a number of players that are set to leave during a summer of change that will be overseen by newly-appointed manager Ten Hag.
Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are others that are out of contract, while Nemanja Matic has already confirmed he is leaving.
There are also a number of frustrated peripheral figures at the club, including Eric Bailly.
The defender appears to be United’s fifth-choice centre-back and seemingly suggested on Instagram that he should play alongside Raphael Varane instead of Harry Maguire in Saturday’s Premier League match at Arsenal.
“I’m not on Instagram and I’m not communicating on Instagram, not at all,” Rangnick said.
“Listen, I’m not talking about my players now in the press conference not knowing what has happened. This doesn’t make sense.
“But I can only tell you, never in my life and I will not be part of Instagram, Facebook or whatever.
“If this is really true what you just told me, then I think it’s not the right sign. This should not happen in a football team, no matter in which league.”
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Ralf Rangnick believes Paul Pogba has played his last match for Manchester United.
The 29-year-old came through the Old Trafford youth set-up and rejoined the club in 2016 following a successful stint at Juventus for a then world-record fee.
But Pogba’s return has not worked out how either party would want and the World Cup winner looks set to leave United this summer when his contract expires.
There is little sign of him agreeing a new deal, meaning the 10 minutes he managed before limping off with a calf injury in Tuesday’s 4-0 meek loss at Liverpool are likely to be his last for the club.
Rangnick says Pogba is facing a minimum of four weeks on the sidelines, which would bring an underwhelming period to a fitting conclusion.
“It doesn’t make sense right now (to talk about his characterisation as a player),” the interim boss said when asked if the midfielder was an enigma.
“He’s injured. He’s a player who won the World Cup with France. He’s such a good player that he was a regular starter for a team like France.
“We all know what kind of potential he has and what kind of good player he can be.
“But he was, quite like a few other players, just struggling to get his best performance sustainably on the pitch for a team like Manchester United.
“This was not only the case this season or in the last couple of weeks, as far as I remember this was also the case in earlier years.”
Arsenal vs Manchester United
The Arsenal line-up sees Cedric coming in for Rob Holding at the back in the only change from the win over Chelsea on Wednesday.
Eddie Nketiah keeps his place up top after his two goals against the Blues.
For United, Cristiano Ronaldo comes back into the starting eleven up front in one of five changes.
Harry Maguire is on the bench as Raphael Varane comes into the back four alongside Alex Telles.
Jadon Sancho starts on the right-hand side with Marcus Rashford dropping out.
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