**Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove**
Arsenal utterly dominated Manchester United to inflict Ruben Amorim’s first defeat as Red Devils boss.
Second half goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba scored from corners displayed Mikel Arteta’s side’s set-piece prowess, while underlining their title credentials on a memorable night in north London.
The result saw Arteta’s impressive side move seven points behind Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, after Arnie Slot’s Reds drew 3-3 at Newcastle.
The Gunners now sit third with 28 points, level on that mark with Chelsea and seven behind Slot's Liverpool, who now face Everton at Goodison Park in the Merseyside derby this weekend.
After an underwhelming opening 45 minutes in which Amorim’s side relentlessly attempted to blunt Arsenal’s attacking options, while providing barely anything of their own, the home side took the lead in the 54th minute — when Declan Rice’s corner was headed in at the near post by full-back Timber, for his first goal for the club.
Arteta’s side nearly doubled their lead when United’s Manuel Ugarte was forced to clear off the line after team-mate Joshua Zirkzee flicked on another Rice corner.
With Arsenal completely in command, the majestic Saliba sealed a thoroughly deserved victory, when Thomas Partey headed Bukayo Saka’s corner against the French defender’s backside, prior to the ball flying past United keeper Andre Onana for 2-0 with 17 minutes remaining.
Arteta’s side are set-piece masters, with Timber and Saliba’s goals ensuring they have now netted 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, including seven this term — more than any other Premier League team.
Amorim’s United flickered briefly when Diogo Dalot fired a shot past David Raya’s post in the first half, prior to the Arsenal keeper making a superb athletic save to foil Matthijs de Ligt late in the second half.
Gunners substitute Mikel Merino could have made it three but headed wide from another excellent Arsenal set-piece, while Onana saved from Kai Havertz.
Speaking afterwards, with a nod to the 500th game played at the stadium since the club moved from Highbury back in 2006, Arteta said: “I’m very happy, it was a very special night.”
As for United, the size of the task in restoring the club to their former glories was laid bare for a somewhat shell shocked Amorim, who admitted after the game: “You learn all the time, it’s not a good thing or a good feeling, it’s really hard,” adding, with understatement: “We need a little bit of time.”