Two goals by striker Eddie Nketiah saw Arsenal claim a 3-2 victory against Manchester United in a highly entertaining contest as the Premier League leaders went five (5) points clear on the table, at the Emirates Stadium in London, England.
Arsenal, who came into the game two (2) points ahead of Manchester City, started with a familiar front-three of Nketiah, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. The visitors featured new signing Wout Weghorst in attack, supported by the in-form Marcus Rashford and Antony on the flanks.
United forward Rashford opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a lovely strike from outside the box, silencing the fans at the Emirates Stadium.
It was Rashford’s ninth goal of the season in the Premier League.
Moments later, Arsenal equalised through Nketiah as his header beat Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, scoring his fourth Premier League goal of the season.
The first half was filled with goalmouth action from end to end, but the scores remained 1-1 by halftime.
In the 53rd minute, the Gunners went ahead courtesy of a brilliant long-range effort from Saka, after the Arsenal winger went past his marker to create enough space for the shot.
Manchester United then showed some steel to find its way back into the encounter. World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez took advantage of an error from Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, floating a header into the net over the Arsenal defence to score his first goal for United.
However, the Gunners continued to press as they didn’t seem to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw. New signing Leandro Trossard came on for Martinelli and moments later, Arsenal had a chance.
A pass from Trossard found Oleksandr Zinchenko in the box and his drilled pass into the danger area fell to Martin Odegaard, whose mishit shot was guided into the net by Nketiah, sending the Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium into a frenzy.
The match finished 3-2 in favour of Arsenal, with the Gunners restoring a five (5) point lead ahead of second-place Manchester City. Arsenal also have a game-in-hand as they have played a game less than rivals Manchester City.
For United, they remain fourth on the table, eleven (11) points behind leaders Arsenal.
Eddie Nketiah’s last-minute winner sends Arsenal five points clear at the top 🔥#ARSMUN pic.twitter.com/70Cq0Edave
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 22, 2023
Next up for Premier League leaders Arsenal is an FA Cup fourth-round game against rivals Manchester City on Friday. Arsenal’s next Premier League match is against Everton on February 4th.
Manchester United will face Nottingham Forest next in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg tie on Wednesday, before playing Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday. They will then play Forest again in the second leg of the Carabao Cup and then meet Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Premier League results
Leeds United 0 – 0 Brentford
Manchester City 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arsenal 3 – 2 Manchester United.
