Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race after Eddy Nketiah’s 90th-minute winner gave them a dramatic victory against Manchester United in a thriller at the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City’s earlier win over Wolverhampton Wanderers put pressure on the Gunners but they responded with character and quality, even after going behind, to move five points clear at the top with a game in hand. .
United’s man-of-the-moment Marcus Rashford fired home a superb right-footed strike from 25 yards to give them the lead in the 17th minute.
Arsenal responded strongly and equalized seven minutes later when Granit Xhaka’s cross set up a header for Nikita, who headed past Aaron van Busaka at the far post.
Bukayo Saka’s angled drive put Arsenal ahead eight minutes after the break but their advantage lasted just six minutes, with Lisandro Martinez scoring his first for the club after keeper Aaron Ramsdale tipped home a corner.
Arsenal looked the more likely winners in the closing stages, Saka hitting the post and Nikita denying a brilliant save from David de Gea.
The pressure was lifted in the closing moments when Nikita – a striker who has been doing excellent work for the injured Gabriel Jesus – came back from close range to spark wild scenes of celebration at the Emirates Stadium.
Unstoppable Arsenal roll on
The celebrations on and off the pitch at the final whistle showed the great importance of the late Naktia winner.
A draw against Erik ten Hague’s improved Manchester United could hardly have proved disastrous – but Nikita’s last-gasp intervention lifted the whole mood sky-high.
Aware Manchester City were on their shoulders after beating Wolves, Arsenal’s nerves were further tested when Rashford’s golden run continued and he put United ahead.
Arsenal responded with the intensity and quality that has marked their game at the top of the table – ordered and composed; Still creating chances until Nikita settled things down.
Saka and captain Martin Odegaard have been creating chances and threat, while the absence of Naketia Gabriel Jesus – who many feared would seriously sabotage the Gunners’ title challenge – has ensured they have the match. Not stopping from winning.
Manchester United denied in dramatic fashion.
Manchester United thought they had done all the hard work as the clock ticked down and their defense – with Martinez outstanding – held firm.
So it was understandable that they looked so devastated when the brief hope offered by a VAR check on Nikitia’s winner ended and they barely had enough time to salvage a point.
Arsenal deserved the win and United can look back on the costly absence of the suspended Casemiro, who would have provided vital experience and game management in those frantic closing stages, and the fact that giant striker Wout Weghorst is still back in the Premier League. Living up to life. League
There was still much to admire in United, who gave as good as they could for the first hour and fought back strongly after Saka put Arsenal in front.
In the end, United were sorely disappointed by the defeat, with a heavy recent program looking tired towards the end.
Arsenal won outright but there is no doubt that a strong United side is heading in the right direction.
