On Sunday, September 3, Arsenal defeated Manchester United 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.
The Gunners came into this game with two victories and one tie from their first three games. Their most recent match was a 2-2 draw at home against 10-man Fulham. Mikel Arteta’s team, on the other hand, was eager to put up a solid performance in their second home game in a row.
The Red Devils, on the other side, won two games and lost one in their first three matches. At Old Trafford, they came back from two goals behind to upset Nottingham Forest 3-2. Erik ten Hag was hoping to put his team’s injury difficulties behind him and gain a win away from home.
History is always in the making.@Arsenal // @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/6YZE1JCHin
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 3, 2023
Both teams had good starts to the game, which was mostly a duel in the middle between the two sides. Tackles came in from both sets of players, and in the opening quarter, Bukayo Saka and Victor Lindelof were both reprimanded for reckless challenges.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford started the score in a counter-attack, with Christian Eriksen assisting. However, the visitors were dealt a blow as Gunners captain Martin Odegaard equalized only seconds later. Arsenal scored 35 seconds after the restart after breaking forward from the kick-off.
At halftime, Arsenal and Manchester United were level 1-1.
HT | Arsenal 1–1 Manchester United
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) September 3, 2023
• xG: 0.81 – 0.29
• Shots (on target): 9 (1) – 3 (1)
• Touches in opp. box: 16 – 5
• Corner kicks: 8 – 1
• Clearances: 3 – 12
• Possession: 45% – 55%
• Accurate passes: 186 – 241
An entertaining first half at the Emirates! 🤩#ARSMUN pic.twitter.com/6rfhXV5B2X
The second half was all Arsenal as they dominated possession and, as a consequence, the speed of the game. After Kai Havertz was hauled down inside the area, they were given a penalty 15 minutes after the restart. Following a review, the ruling was overturned due to insufficient contact.
As the game neared its end, both managers made many adjustments.
In the 89th minute, Alejandro Garnacho seemed to come off the bench and win the game for Manchester United with a superb, calm goal. By the tiniest of margins, the goal was reviewed and eventually disallowed for offside.
Arsenal took advantage of this by scoring two late goals, one each from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus, to win 3-1.
On that topic, here are the five game-related talking points.
#5. The game's opening minutes were marked by a feisty skirmish in the middle of the field
Both Arsenal and Manchester United got off to fast starts, with the hosts pressing forward but the visitors defending effectively. Strong tackles rushed in from both sets of players, leaving several in a heap as the audience cheered and booed.
Both Victor Lindelof and Bukayo Saka were engaged in incidents and were both arrested for making inappropriate physical contact with their opponents. The former pulled Nketiah down on the sideline but avoided a red card owing to the distance from goal. The latter screamed at Bruno Fernandes and was fortunate it was a yellow card since he left his studs high on the Portuguese midfielder.
#4. After a goal by Manchester United, Arsenal scored very immediately
Following a ball recovery in their own half, United broke forward on the counter-attack. Marcus Rashford moved forward from the left flank and into the area after Christian Eriksen sent a ball to him. Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko were caught off guard as Rashford cut in and blasted a shot into the goal to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead after 27 minutes.
Arsenal responded quickly, scoring only 35 seconds after the next kick-off. This time, the Red Devils’ defense was caught off guard as Gabriel Martinelli delivered a straightforward assist for Martin Odegaard to convert to tie the game at one.
27' - Rashford makes it 1-0
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 3, 2023
29' - Odegaard answers right back
WE'VE GOT A MATCH 😤 pic.twitter.com/B2EHgw8W9p
#3. The penalty call against Kai Havertz in the second half was overturned
Arsenal came out firing in the second half, making inroads into Manchester United’s 18-yard area. They were successful on a couple instances, and on one of those occasions, Kai Havertz broke into the box and was stopped by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The visitors’ full-back made minimal contact with Havertz, but he fell down, and referee Anthony Taylor immediately gave the penalty. However, VAR urged him to reconsider his judgment, which he did after seeing the tape personally.
No penalty for Arsenal here.pic.twitter.com/ULmdSHUE8I
— Extra Time (@ExtraTimeHD) September 3, 2023
#2. A goal scored by Alejandro Garnacho was disallowed by the narrowest of margins
Manchester United began to come into their own as the game progressed, with replacement Rasmus Hojlund creating issues for the hosts. The Dane was instrumental in setting up Garnacho’s beautiful breakaway goal in the 89th minute. His deft flip moved the ball towards the halfway line and enabled it to be passed forward.
After being put through, the Argentine retained his calm to slide the ball past Aaron Ramsdale and into the goal. Replays revealed that he was played offside by William Saliba, who leapt at the last second to take Garnacho out.
#1. Two goals in added time gave Arsenal a thrilling victory
After surviving the fear of loosing the game late on due to Alejandro Garnacho’s disallowed goal, Arsenal tried to recover and prepare for at least eight minutes of stoppage time.
Martin Odegaard earned a corner after a blunder, and Saka went up to take it. His corner reached the far post and found Declan Rice, whose effort deflected off Jonny Evans before past Andre Onana.
Arsenal then clinched the deal when Fabio Vieira set up Gabriel Jesus for a goal. The Brazilian pulled off a beautiful move to fool Evans before putting the ball into the goal to make it 3-1.
WHAT A WIN ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ENOucv7rJC
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 3, 2023