Reds go fourth as Cunha stuns league leaders
Michael Carrick made no changes from the win over Manchester City last weekend. Noussair Mazraoui came back into the matchday squad after Morocco’s AFCON Final defeat against Senegal last weekend. He replaced Jack Fletcher on the bench. Mikel Arteta made four changes from their scoreless draw with Nottingham Forest. Gabriel Jesus replaced Viktor Gyokeres up front. Piero Hincapie, Leandro Trossard, and Bukayo Saka started ahead of Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli, and Noni Madueke.
Arsenal were looking to stretch out their lead to seven points and started the stronger of the two. United players were finding it hard to build up any degree of possession as the home players buzzed around them. The best opportunity they had came when Martin Zubimendi’s header connected to Declan Rice’s free-kick. Senne Lammens produced an excellent save to deny him. Clear chances were few and far apart other than that.
That was until the home side went in front just before the half hour. It was not a creation to live long in the memory. Patrick Dorgu was not able to get sufficient distance on his clearance which was picked up by Bukayo Saka. He set up Martin Odegaard whose sliced volley flew across the six yard area. Lisandro Martinez attempted to clear it but it struck his standing foot and past the stranded Lammens.
United did try and get back into the game and Gabriel had to make an excellent block from Bruno Fernandes. David Raya then had to get across to prevent Gabriel Jesus from scoring an own goal from a Dorgu corner.
They were to draw level with eight minutes left in the half. Zubimendi received a pass from Jurrien Timber near the half-way line. He attempted a pass that was nowhere near either Timber or Raya. Bryan Mbeumo was lurking and nipped in to race through on goal, skip around Raya and into the net despite Timber trying desperately to clear it off the line.
Suddenly the Emirates was full of nerves and the team in the black kits growing in confidence. It was level at the break, but the momentum of the game had shifted.
That was demonstrated when the away side went in front for the first time. Dorgu surged in from his left flank to play successive one-twos with Fernandes and blast a volley into the top of the net via the crossbar. Arsenal players protested that the ball had come off his arm in the process. It was cleared on a VAR check.
Arteta decided to make a quadruple change just before the hour in an attempt to regain the pace from earlier in the game. It was United who looked more likely to score the next goal and had chances through Matheus Cunha and Dorgu.
It was Arsenal who levelled up matters on 84 minutes and yet again it was a messy goal. Lammens miscued his punch after coming through a crowd of players from a Saka corner. Cunha cleared it off the line but Mikel Merino followed up on it. Benjamin Sesko attempted to hack it off the line but the ball had just crossed it.
If they believed this was going to provide the platform for a grandstand finish, they were rocked back on their heels a few minutes later. Kobbe Mainoo played a neat ball into the path of Cunha. He embarked on curved run infield, used the frame of Gabriel as a block to Raya’s and curled a effort into the bottom corner from all of 30 yards out.
The defence stood firm in the remaining minutes plus extensive injury time to seal our first win here in the league since 2017. And confirm Arsenal’s home home defeat this season. It was interesting that there were boos from the home fans on the final whistle. They now face a huge game at Leeds next Saturday. United must build on the last two performances when taking on Fulham at home on Sunday.
Arsenal: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Magalhaes Gabriel, Piero Hincapie (Ben White 58), Martin Odegaard (Mikel Merino 58), Martin Zubimendi (Eberechi Eze 58), Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus (Viktor Gyokeres 58), Leandro Trossard (Noni Madueke 75).
Subs not used: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Martinelli, Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Booked: Declan Rice (64), Eberechi Eze (90+1)
Sent off: None
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Carlos Casemiro, Kobee Mainoo, Amad Diallo (Noussair Mazraoui 88), Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu (Benjamin Sesko 81), Bryan Mbeumo (Matheus Cunha 69).
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Ayden Heaven, .
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Referee: Craig Pawson
Attendance: 60,296.
Simply Red Man of the Match: Patrick Dorgu.
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