Gunners win to ruin United's top-four hopes
Manchester United's hopes of playing UEFA Champions League football next season are surely over after losing 3-1 away to fellow top-four hopeful Arsenal in a Premier League thriller.
United travelled to Emirates Stadium hoping for a response to its 4-0 humiliation by Liverpool and, although its general display was improved, defensively it was again unconvincing.
Nuno Tavares had Arsenal in front early on and a Bukayo Saka penalty made it 2-0 just before Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 100th Premier League goal – though that was just the tip of the iceberg amid an entertaining first half.
The visitors began the second period well and somehow failed to equalise, with Bruno Fernandes missing a penalty and Diogo Dalot hitting the post, with Granit Xhaka's piledriver then dealing the hammer blow.
United made another slow start as Saka tested David de Gea after two defenders missed the ball and Tavares tapped in the rebound for a third-minute lead.
The response from United was purposeful. It created several chances, hit the crossbar from range via Dalot and was controversially denied a penalty when Cedric Soares handled in the box.
But Arsenal then increased its lead just past the half-hour.
Eddie Nketiah had a goal disallowed for offside, yet Alex Telles was deemed to have fouled Saka just prior in the same VAR (video assistant referee) check and the winger converted the resulting penalty.
United swiftly pulled one back, Ronaldo expertly turning in Nemanja Matic's wonderful curling cross.
It spurned an opportunity to draw level from the spot, though, as Fernandes hit his kick against the post early in the second half – Ronaldo then had a second goal disallowed for a marginal offside.
Dalot struck the goal frame again with United's next attack and Arsenal capitalised on the profligacy in the 70th minute when Xhaka blasted past De Gea from 30 yards to seal victory.
