Arsenal delivered a pivotal victory over Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium, narrowing Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points. Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, both from corners in the second half, secured a win that rekindled Arsenal’s title hopes.
The Gunners entered the match energized by Liverpool’s earlier draw against Newcastle, which presented an opportunity to close the gap. Despite this, the first half offered little to excite the Emirates crowd. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli found the net within minutes, but the effort was ruled out due to Kai Havertz being offside in the buildup.
Arsenal dominated the early exchanges, creating several half-chances from corners. Declan Rice’s deliveries found Thomas Partey and others in promising positions, but the hosts failed to capitalize. Their most notable opportunity came when Martinelli dragged a blocked effort wide after a chance created by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Manchester United, despite their lack of control, had the best chance of the half. Diogo Dalot sent a dangerous shot skimming across David Raya’s goal, leaving the Arsenal goalkeeper untested but alert. The visitors struggled to establish rhythm, as Ruben Amorim’s side looked disjointed under Arsenal’s persistent pressing.
The second half began with more urgency from Arsenal, signaled by an early chance for Martinelli, whose deflected shot was comfortably gathered by André Onana. Moments later, Rice forced another corner after his shot ricocheted off Mason Mount. Arsenal’s intent was clear, and it didn’t take long for their efforts to bear fruit.
The breakthrough came nine minutes after the restart. From yet another Rice corner, Timber outmuscled his marker at the near post and directed a header past Onana, sparking celebrations in the home stands. Buoyed by the goal, Arsenal pushed forward, with Bukayo Saka testing Onana shortly after.
In response, Amorim introduced Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee, who had both excelled in the previous match against Everton. However, United’s adjustments had little impact. In fact, Zirkzee nearly scored an own goal with a misplaced header that zipped dangerously across his own box.
United’s best chance of the game arrived shortly after Timber’s opener. Zinchenko’s foul on Amad Diallo earned United a free kick in a threatening area. Matthijs De Ligt’s powerful header seemed destined for the top corner, but Raya pulled off a stunning save to preserve Arsenal’s lead.
Moments later, Arsenal doubled their advantage. From another corner, Partey’s unmarked header at the back post deflected off Saliba’s shoulder and into the net. The goal highlighted Arsenal’s set-piece prowess, marking their 22nd such goal since the beginning of last season a league-leading statistic.
Arteta and Arsenal’s set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, shared a jubilant embrace on the touchline as United’s hopes of salvaging a result dwindled. Havertz had an opportunity to extend the lead further but fired directly at Onana, while Mikel Merino’s header from another corner drifted narrowly wide.
Arsenal maintained control in the closing stages, denying United any opportunity to mount a comeback. The victory not only ended Ruben Amorim’s unbeaten start as United manager but also underscored Arsenal’s resilience and tactical discipline.
As the final whistle blew, Arsenal’s fans celebrated a significant win that kept their title ambitions alive. The result demonstrated their ability to capitalize on rivals’ slip-ups while reinforcing the importance of their set-piece efficiency in a tightly contested Premier League season.
