In the latest Premier League encounter, Arsenal is on the verge of securing a fourth consecutive win against Manchester United across all competitions. Despite the Gunners boasting a high-profile attacking lineup, it was their defenders who made the difference at the Emirates Stadium, notably Jurrien Timber and William Saliba.
Arsenal has been particularly potent from set-pieces this season, having scored more goals from corners than any other Premier League side (seven). Against United, both Timber and Saliba took advantage of their occasional forays into the attacking third, contributing to Arsenal’s success. Saliba, in particular, played a significant role in extending Arsenal’s lead to 2-0.
The pivotal moment came when Marcus Rashford, who had only been on the pitch for about 20 minutes after entering in the 60th minute, conceded a corner in a highly questionable manner. Under pressure from Arsenal’s captain, Martin Ødegaard, Rashford attempted to flick the ball over the Norwegian but instead mishandled it, sending the ball out of play. This led to a right-sided in-swinger from Bukayo Saka, which deflected off Saliba’s backside and into the net, securing Arsenal’s second goal.
Manchester United’s lack of offensive threat throughout the match, compounded by defensive errors like Rashford’s, left them with little chance of a comeback. United’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, was visibly upset with the defensive lapse, particularly the way Rashford conceded the corner. Journalist Samuel Luckhurst noted Amorim’s fury, pointing out how unnecessary the mistake was. This defeat marked Amorim’s first loss since taking over from Erik ten Hag, with United now sitting 11th in the league standings.
This defeat was also United’s fifth in the league this season, and their chances of challenging for a top-four finish now seem slim, as they trail Manchester City by seven points ahead of next Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Meanwhile, Manchester City, who had endured an unusual seven-game winless streak, managed to secure a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, giving them a much-needed boost as they prepare for the derby clash with United.