**Arsenal:** Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz
**Subs:** Neto, Tierney, Heaven, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Merino, Sterling, Trossard, Jesus
Arsenal reduced the gap from Liverpool to seven points after beating Manchester United 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba.
Mikel Arteta made four changes to the team that beat West Ham on Saturday, with Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli all coming into the side.
Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori missed out on the matchday squad altogether after failing to pass late fitness tests.
It was an even start with both teams looking sloppy in possession, although Arsenal only needed four minutes to open the scoring when Martinelli fired home after a mistake from Andre Onana – but Kai Havertz was clearly offside in the build up – and the goal was rightly ruled out.
The Gunners should have been ahead just minutes later when another Declan Rice corner found Thomas Partey unmarked in the middle, who somehow headed wide from a yard out.
After that lucky escape, United settled into the game and were finding Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho in advanced areas too easily, with Arsenal seemingly unsure about who to press and when.
However, with 25 minutes on the clock, Arteta’s men passed up another golden opportunity when Martinelli skewed wide from close range after Zinchenko’s deflected effort fell his way in the penalty area.
Heading towards half time, things became increasingly frustrating for the hosts who were struggling to break United down, but their movement and certainty of pass were just not quick enough.
It could have been worse for Arsenal before the break after a freak mishit from Mason Mount fell to Harry Maguire, whose cross deflected back to Diogo Dalot who hit a rasping effort inches wide.
United defended well throughout the first period, but Arteta’s men were below their usual level and struggled to get key players in the game with the visitors forcing play central.
But Arsenal came out quickly after the break and had two quick-fire opportunities, first through Martinelli who broke down the left but saw his tame shot blocked by Maguire, before Rice saw another shot deflected over after good work from Partey and Timber.
And that early pressure eventually told when Timber broke the deadlock – you guessed it – from another set piece, rising highest to head home another pinpoint Rice delivery. [1-0](https://streamin.me/v/z56m0s79).
United were rocking by that point and Bukayo Saka missed a huge chance to double the lead after an unbelievable Martin Odegaard pass split the defence, but his shot was well saved by Onana.
Second half substitute Joshua Zirkzee almost had an own goal to his name (from another corner) but his blushes were spared by Manuel Ugarte, who cleared his teammates’ header off the line when it looked destined for the far corner.
Up the other end, it took 65 minutes but David Raya was finally called into action, stretching brilliantly across his goal to claw out Matthijs De Ligt’s goalbound header after Zinchenko conceded a needless free kick after dallying on the ball.
Arteta reacted by taking the Ukrainian off for Mikel Merino – with Timber moving to left back and Partey going to right back – with Leandro Trossard also replacing Martinelli.
And minutes later, it finally came – breathing room. The Gunners doubled their lead when another corner (this time from Saka) found Partey unmarked at the back post, whose header back across goal deflected off Saliba’s backside and in. [2-0](https://streamin.me/v/efeqf3f1).
There was a slice of fortune in the finish but the quality and consistency of Arsenal’s set piece delivery was unbelievable all night.
The floodgates opened by that point and Havertz was denied at the near post after being played through by Odegaard, before Merino headed just wide after he was left unmarked from another set piece.
Arteta’s men controlled the closing stages and could have scored more when chances fell to Trossard and Odegaard, although neither player found the target with United bodies
That’s now three wins in three games since the last international break, and Arteta will be hoping that run can continue against Fulham at Craven Cottage this weekend.