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.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Watford (Jesus, 23’)
Cleverley does well to dispossess Sterling but it comes back out to De Bruyne.
It’s a pin point ball for Jesus who slams it home! What a team goal.
Manchester City 1-0 Watford, 23 mins
Chance after chance for City at the moment and it’s their final touches and Foster’s good work keeping them from doubling their lead.
Another corner for the hosts is sent in by De Bruyne but it ends in nothing. Laporte thought he was brought down but the ref says play on.
Dennis does so well to run around two defenders, he gets a pass away but it finds a City player. The Watford playmaker calls for a penalty but VAR looks and decides against.
Sterling has the latest opportunity for City but his cross is caught by Foster.
Manchester City 1-0 Watford, 18 mins
Foster does well to get to the ball before Jesus, City are just picking apart Watford’s defence. They are placing every pass and Sterling manages to dance around four defenders to get that cross in.
Again City are patient in their attack. No rushing. Just anticipating the chances will come and waiting for Watford to open up. This time Cancelo is the one to pounce with Foster making a cracking save.
Sterling wins a corner with De Bruyne the taker, again, he goes short but the hosts run the ball all the way back to their keeper.
Manchester City 1-0 Watford, 13 mins
Great work from Samir cuts out a cross from Cancelo as City easily pass the ball around, they have huge amounts of space to do what they want at the moment.
The great intercept did concede a corner with De Bruyne on the kick again. It’s headed away for another corner but this time Dennis does well.
Grealish fights for it back and gets it in the box but Fernandihno can’t get a clean shot away. This is one way traffic.
Louza’s sloppy pass sees another City corner with De Bruyne on it again, it’s headed away.
What a counter for Watford! It was almost a one-on-one with Dennis and Ederson but Zinchenko makes the metres and the tackle to stop the chance, a great defensive move!
Manchester City 1-0 Watford, 9 mins
City had retained possession ahead of that goal and were patient in their attack. Cancelo had pinged the ball into the box and it came out for Zinchenko who flicked it onto Jesus.
This could be a very long afternoon for Watford. Hodgson has never been relegated from the top flight but it is looking more and more likely he will be this season.
City have a corner and De Bruyne takes the set piece, Watford deal well with it and contain the threat.
Cleverley then cuts out a dangerous cross from Cancelo. Fernandihno gets a shot away but Foster collects well, it’s all City in these early stages.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Watford (Jesus, 4’)
Well that didn’t take long did it?
Zinchenko gets a great cross in and Jesus gets a one touch finish.
Kick-off! Manchester City 0-0 Watford
So here we go!
Can City blow Watford away or can the visitors shock the defending champions?
Manchester City vs Watford
The teams have been out for warm-up and they will re-emerge on the pitch shortly for kick-off at 3pm.
The favourites are City but it will be interesting to see what the final score is. If Watford can keep the score down, or even hold City heading into half-time it will be a win.
But from City’s Brighton match earlier this weekend, you need to be alert for the full 90 or they will make you pay.
Manchester City vs Watford
We move from the Emirates to the Etihad now as table toppers Manchester City face off against Watford.
The team news is up with both managers revealing their starting XIs.
Pep Guardiola will be looking to extend his lead at the top of the table to thwart Liverpool who are chasing the defending champions.
City: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Fernandinho (C), De Bruyne, Jesus, Grealish, Sterling.
Meanwhile Watford need a win to keep hopes of staying in the top flight alive. They are currently seven points away from safety.
Watford: Foster, Ngakia, Louza, King, Cleverley, Kamara, Sissoko, Samir, Sarr, Dennis, Kabasele.
Kick-off just ten minutes away.
Full-time: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
The match was an absolute thriller, especially in that fast-paced first half and we shouldn’t forget Ronaldo scored his 100th Premier League goal in the match.
But the Gunners just porved too much for United.
If you want to re-live any of the action, read Miguel Delaney’s report from the Emirates:
Arsenal best Manchester United to keep pace in top-four race
Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd: Goals from Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka secured what could prove to be a big three points in the battle for Champions League qualification
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