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.
Full-time: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka told BT Sport: ”I’m very happy for the three points. I’m happy I helped the team. It’s been a long time since I’ve scored.
“It was a 50/50 game in the second half. United were pressing us but we will take the three points.
“I like to score against United. I’m very happy. Arteta told us to take the fans with us and we did.”
Full-time: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
I still can’t believe Fernandes missed that penalty.
He ovethought it and tried to be too clever which saw him hit the post. Ramsdale had even gone the wrong way so if he put some power behind it, it would have brought United right back into the match.
Have a look at the shocker:
Full-time: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
What a season this has been for Mikel Arteta. People were calling for his head at the start of the campaign with an awful run of form but Arsenal displayed faith in their manager and he has paid them back.
It will be crucial for the Gunners to get back into European football after not qualifying for the first time in 25 years.
It’s a very different story at United who won’t take anything from this season. Is that due to them bringing in an interim manager instead of investing in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the rest of the season? Maybe. But it’s a long road back for the club who dominated for so long.
Full-time: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
Arsenal have gone fourth with a huge 3-1 win over United.
Tavares and Saka saw the hosts take a good lead but Ronaldo halved the scoreline in the first half.
Fernandes missed a penalty in the second half and Ramsdale saved a great shot from Dalot. They soaked in the pressure and Xhaka sealed the result.
United will be lucky to get Champions League now witht he battle firmly between Arsenal and Spurs now.
Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United, 90 + 3 mins
Odegaard has been named Man of the Match with his work in the background helping his team to this famous victory.
Ronaldo gets a yellow for a challenge on Tomiyasu, the frustration even reaching their best player.
A good point for United is that their performance has been much better than what fans saw against Liverpool. While Arsenal supporters will be hugely encouraged by their continuation of good form after their win over Chelsea.
Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United, 90 +1 mins
Arsenal continue to close this game out, they are keeping the ball and maintaining the game in their half.
United do manage to build something with Ronaldo sending the ball in but they can’t get the last touch away.
There are fourminutes added as Tomiyasu makes he way onto the pitch with Cedric making way.
Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United, 85 mins
As things stand Arsenal are fourth with this win but Tottenham will play Brentford later where they will look to restore themselves in the Champions League qualification spot.
Ronaldo is still at the centre of United as he is almost on the end of a good cross but he’s just offside.
Yet more cards raining down on this match as Lindelof getting booked for a challenge on Nketiah.
Odegaard, who has had a cracking match, gets into a great position to feed the box but United smother the ball.
The visitors make yet another change as Fernandes comes off for Mata.
Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United, 80 mins
Matic fouls Nketiah and Arsenal have a goal kick and the cameras pan to the touchline as United look to make changes.
Lingard and Rashford will be called into action in the next break of play. Before they come on Fernandes is booked for a challenge on Tavares. VAR are checking the tackle, it’s a late one from the United player but he stays on the pitch.
The England internationals are called into action as Matic and Elanga come off.
McTominay goes down with Elneny getting a yellow card for the foul.
Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United, 75 mins
The VAR are checking to see if Nketiah was blocking De Gea’s eyeline in the build up to Xhaka’s hit. The check is over and the goal stands, it was such a great strike!
The Emirates have somehow got even louder after that goal.
Saka has signalled to come off as his thigh is giving him trouble. He’s been taken off for Holding, hopefully Saka’s injury doesn’t keep him out of action for the rest of the season.
If United don’t win here it would be their fourth away defeat, something that hasn’t happened since the 80/81 season.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United (Xhaka, 70’)
A beautiful ball from Saka sees him thread the ball through two United defenders but no one is in the box to collect.
But the ball comes back out and Xhaka pounces. It slides through the United defence like butter. Wow, what a hit!
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