The victory keeps Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand and adds another big result against a top rival for Mikel Arteta’s team this season — following wins over
This one came courtesy of two players — Nketiah and Sakah — who came out of the club's Hale End academy and were 4 and 2 years old, respectively, when Arsenal last won the league 19 years ago.
“You could see how badly we wanted it — for us, for our fans," Nketiah said. “We kept pushing and pushing.”
United is the only team to have beaten Arsenal this season, and — with
But Arsenal was finally rewarded for a period of relentless pressure over the last 10 minutes, with
The celebrations were put on hold as VAR reviewed a possible offside, but the Emirates crowd erupted again when the goal was awarded.
“When you see that purple screen (for a VAR check), your heart goes a bit," Nketiah said.
Of the many big moments in Arsenal’s season so far, that may have been the biggest.
City’s win over
“It doesn’t get much better than that,” Arteta said. “The second half especially, the performance was incredible. To win it in that way makes it even better.”
For United, it was a first league loss since
“It’s hard to accept when you lose in the last stage of the game,” Ten Hag said. “We made mistakes with all three goals. Normally we are better in such situations. It can’t happen.”
It started well for United, as
Arsenal didn’t panic, though, and responded seven minutes later.
In a frantic game that often featured end-to-end action and chances at both sides, Saka gave Arsenal the lead for the first time in the 53rd when he collected the ball on the left flank, drove past
But goalkeeper
Saka nearly executed a near-replica of his goal as Arsenal chased a winner, but his shot took a deflection off Eriksen’s leg that time and hit the post.
Arsenal’s new signing Leandro Trossard came on in the 82nd and played a part in the buildup to Arsenal’s winner, exchanging passes with the excellent
“It wasn’t our best start to a game,” Saka said. “But we showed character. ... We have to stay humble. It’s only halfway through the season."
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