With all eyes falling on north London on Wednesday night, Arsenal made up some ground in this season’s Premier League title chase as they claimed a 2-0 victory against historic rivals Manchester United.
Although neither side might have failed to register a single shot on target throughout the first-half, it was Mikel Arteta’s set-piece kings who eventually dragged themselves to a crucial victory on Wednesday night.
With defender Jurrien Timber and William Saliba doing the damage from a pair of Declan Rice corners, Arsenal managed to make up some ground on a Liverpool squad that were forced to settle for a pulsating 3-3 stalemate against Newcastle earlier in the night.
Arsenal have now won each of their previous four appearances across all competitions and have certainly hit the ground running since returning from November’s international break.
As for Ruben Amorim’s new squad, United are still battling it out in the bottom-half of the Premier League table and they have also recorded just a single victory on their travels so far this season.
On a night when Arsenal extended on their recent purple patch, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the Emirates.
Arsenal make up some ground
While Arsenal might have found themselves at the heart of a worrying wobble prior to November’s international break, the Gunners have come roaring back in a sensational fashion.
Although Arteta’s side might still sit third in the Premier League standings behind both runaway leaders Liverpool and London rivals Chelsea, Wednesday’s hosts have turned a real corner over the past few weeks.
Putting in a thumping performance last weekend as they secured an action-packed 5-2 victory away at West Ham, Arsenal have won each of their previous four appearances across all competitions.
Laying down a heavyweight Champions League marker last month as they stormed their way to a 5-1 romp away at Sporting Lisbon, Arsenal have certainly found a major clinical edge in the final third.
Remarkably notching 15 goals on their four-match winning run across all competitions, Arteta’s side will be desperate to keep up their recent charge when they travel to west London and meet Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
United need to find stability on their travels
While Manchester United might have really got Amorim’s tenure underway last weekend as they stormed their way to a 4-0 romp against Everton, Wednesday’s guests came crashing back down to earth here.
Watching their seven-match unbeaten run across all fronts come to an abrupt end in north London, the Red Devils are still battling it out in the bottom-half of the Premier League table.
With the former Sporting Lisbon boss admitting that it will take some time for his philosophy to be fully implemented, he should have some real concerns over United’s extended issues away from Old Trafford.
Remarkably still waiting to collect consecutive Premier League victories for the first time this season, United have also recorded just a sole win on their travels so far this season.
Still showing some real defensive inconsistencies and heavily outplayed after returning from the half-time break, United must dust themselves down quickly as they welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
The Gunners extend on their sensational record against United
In the latest chapter of one of the Premier League’s most historic rivalries, Arsenal will be wishing that they could play Manchester United every week.
Although the Gunners might have faced a United squad that are currently getting a new era underway, Wednesday’s hosts hold a sensational record against their historic rivals.
Landing a 1-0 victory when they travelled to Old Trafford back on May 12th for their most recent Premier League battle prior to Wednesday’s showdown in north London, Arsenal have constantly proven they have the edge on United.
In fact, Arteta’s side have now won each of their previous four consecutive Premier League showdowns against Manchester United by an aggregate score of 9-3.
Likewise, the Gunners have now lost just a pair of their last 13 straight top-flight battles against Wednesday’s guests – a run that stems all the way back to April 2018.
Match Report
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Partey, Odegaard, Rice, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Subs: Merino, Jorginho, Trossard
Manchester United: Onana, de Ligt, Maguire, Mazraoui, Dalot, Malacia, Ugarte, Fernandes, Mount, Garnacho, Hojlund
Subs: Antony, Rashford, Zirkzee, Diallo, Yoro
Goals: Timber (54’), Saliba (73’)
Yellow Cards: Arsenal: Zinchenko – Manchester United: Ugarte, Malacia, Maguire
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Sam Barrott
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