Football

Football   |   February 8, 2023

Arsenal 3 – 2 Manchester United: Eddie Nketiah Scores a Late Winner as the Gunners Extend Their Premier League Lead To Five Points

Man Utd lost to Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday late afternoon. Marcus Rashford gave the Red Devils the first lead. Lisandro Martinez and Bukayo Saka scored for each side. 

Eddie Nketiah scored a brace, including the game-winner in the 90th minute. Arsenal extends its lead above Manchester City to five points.

Premier League Highlights From Arsenal’s Win Over Manchester United at Emirates Stadium

Manchester United took the lead early on thanks to a great run and finish by Marcus Rashford. That marked the forward’s 9th goal in nine games across all competitions since the 2022 World Cup ended, the most by any player in Europe’s top five leagues.

Nketiah immediately leveled the game for the Gunners with a strong close-range header, giving him 18 goals over his last 26 games. Bukayo Saka’s long-range shot gave Mikel Arteta’s team the lead for the first time into the 53rd minute of the second half.

Yet just six minutes later, Manchester United was back on even ground after Lisandro Martinez netted his first goal for the team. The World Cup-winning Argentine capitalized on Aaron Ramsdale’s error by scoring with a header.

However, the game’s climax was saved by Nketiah, who scored in stoppage time on a rebound after Martin Odegaard’s off-target attempt. The Video Assistant Referee made tense offsides check, but Eddie Nketiah was onside.

Arsenal vs. Manchester United: Team News

Mikel Arteta picked the same starting lineup that defeated the Spurs on the road. New signing Leandro Trossard joined the bench substitutes as the only change.

Scott McTominay replaced Casemiro in Manchester United’s midfield while the Brazilian was suspended. That was the only change Eric ten Hag made following the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.

How the Gunners Kept the Title Charge on Track

Manchester United, without key Brazil defensive midfielder Casemiro due to suspension, was placed under intense early pressure by Arsenal. However, they opened the scoring after 17 minutes.

The hosts gave away possession of the ball carelessly, and Rashford was able to recover it deep inside the opposition’s half. The England attacker dribbled past Thomas Partey before firing a 25-yard shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

The lead lasted only seven minutes when unmarked Eddie Nketiah headed Granit Xhaka’s exquisite left-wing cross at the far post. The first half hour went fairly quickly, with both teams coming close to grabbing the lead again. 

However, it was Arsenal who scored next, sending the Emirates wild, when Saka raced in from the right and sent a low shot in the far corner of the net beyond De Gea’s outstretched hand 8 minutes into the second half.

However, the visitors responded in this thrilling back-and-forth encounter. The usually solid Ramsdale made an error when he played a spot kick directly to Martinez. The defender was able to get a header past Gabriel and back into the net.

Arsenal gave Leandro Trossard his first appearance in the second half. They fought hard for the game-winning goal in the last quarter. De Gea’s brilliant save from Saka’s second effort kept the home team at bay early. However, Nketiah’s late effort enabled the Gunners to grab the three points.

Arsenal vs. Manchester United: Player Ratings

Arsenal 4.3.3 Lineup: Aaron Ramsdale (6), William Saliba (6), Ben White (6), Gabriel (6), Thomas Partey (6), Oleksandr Zinchenko (7), Granit Xhaka (8), Bukayo Saka (9), Martin Odegaard (8), Gabriel Martinelli (7), and Eddie Nketiah (8)

Substitutes: Rob Holding (6), Leandro Trossard (6), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (6)

Manchester United 4.2.3.1 Lineup: David De Gea (8), Raphael Varane (7), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (8), Lisandro Martinez (7), Scott McTominay (7), Luke Shaw (7), Christian Eriksen (6), Antony (6), Bruno Fernandes (6), Marcus Rashford (8), and Wout Weghorst (6)

Substitutes: Fred (6) and Alejandro Garnacho (6)

Man of the Match: Bukayo Saka

What Follows 

Premier League officials – the Gunners will travel to Etihad to face rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup 4th round on Friday at 8 pm on Saturday, February 4th, at 12:30 p.m., the Gunners will be back in Premier League action as they travel to face Everton. 

The month of February concludes for Mikel Arteta’s squad with two home games against Brentford and Manchester City, followed by two road games against Aston Villa and Leicester.

Manchester United must put their league plans on hold as they face three cup matches in the next ten days. The Red Devils visit the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest for the opening leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening.

On Saturday at 8 pm, the Red Devils will host Reading in a 4th FA Cup match. Next Wednesday is the second leg of Manchester United and Forest’s cup semi-final at Old Trafford. The next league encounter for Manchester United will be at Old Trafford against Patrick Vieira’s side on February 4th at 3 p.m.

All these fixtures are on Dafabet. Visit Dafabet to place your wager today.