Manchester United produced a stunning comeback to beat leaders Premier League leaders Arsenal 3–2 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, climbing into fourth place and dealing a serious blow to the Gunners’ title hopes.
After falling behind to a Lisandro Martínez own goal in the first half, United rallied through Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu and a dramatic late strike from substitute Matheus Cunha to take all three points.
Arsenal looked to have hauled themselves back into it when Mikel Merino bundled home in the 84th minute, but Cunha’s long-range winner three minutes later completed a remarkable turnaround. United’s second-half goals included Dorgu’s thunderous effort that ricocheted in off the underside of the bar, while the visitors’ equaliser before half-time came after a defensive error that presented Mbeumo with a simple finish.
The result was Arsenal’s first home defeat of the season and United’s first victory at the Emirates in eight years - a statement win that lifts Michael Carrick’s men into the top four. Eight days ago Arsenal had the chance to go nine points clear; instead their advantage over Manchester City and Aston Villa is down to four with 15 games remaining, leaving the title race far more open than it looked last week.
United’s win, coming a week after they beat City, gives Carrick six points from six against the two current top sides in the league - the perfect start as interim boss.
Story of the match
Arsenal boss Arteta opted to make four changes to the side that started last Saturday's 0-0 draw at the City Ground. Gabriel Jesus, who scored twice against Inter in the Champions League in midweek, started ahead of summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Piero Hincapie was preferred to Ben White in defence, while Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka replaced Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke.
For the Red Devils,Carrick decided to stick with the same United team that secured a dominant 2-0 win over local rivals Manchester City last weekend in his first game in charge.
Declan Rice and William Saliba combined neatly as Arsenal asserted control early on in the contest. Saliba was perfectly positioned at the back post and, with a clearer sight of goal, might have slid the ball across the six-yard box - instead, he pulled it back to Rice. The midfielder slipped inside and saw a low shot smothered by Lisandro Martínez.
Arsenal’s first shot on target of the evening arrived from a set-piece. Rice curled a pinpoint free-kick into the six-yard area, and Martin Zubimendi rose highest, but Senne Lammens produced a superb reaction to tip the header over the bar. The save underlined how fine margins were keeping the game level despite Arsenal’s early dominance.
The breakthrough came shortly before the half hour. A deep cross towards the back post was poorly cleared away by Patrick Dorgu, and Bukayo Saka was quick to pounce and feed Martin Ødegaard. Ødegaard unleashed a clinical volley; Martínez, tussling with Jurrien Timber, got a touch but could only watch it strike his standing foot and loop into the net.
United immediately upped the tempo after the goal. Bryan Mbeumo latched onto a long ball, slotted it to Bruno Fernandes 20 yards out, and the United captain let fly - his effort skewing well wide as the visitors searched for a way back into the contest.
They found their route in the 37th minute when Arsenal were punished for a sloppy pass from Zubimendi. The midfielder delivered an underhit backpass to David Raya under pressure, Mbeumo pounced, rounded the goalkeeper and calmly rolled the ball into the empty net to restore parity and notch his ninth of the season.
The equaliser lifted United, who began to look more adventurous. Fernandes slipped a searching ball over the Arsenal defence into Mbeumo’s path; spotting Raya off his line, Mbeumo tried an audacious volleyed lob that drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick’s side picked up where they left off, starting the second half on the front foot before taking the lead in the 50th minute through a spectacular Dorgu strike. The Dane cut in from the left, combined neatly with Bruno Fernandes and then rifled a bouncing effort from outside the box past David Raya - a moment of real class from the 21-year-old, who has flourished in a more advanced wide role in recent weeks.
Later, a Mikel Merino attempt from the edge of the box deflected off Harry Maguire before being comfortably collected by Lammens - replays suggested the ball struck Maguire’s arm as he fell, but the referee saw no deliberate handball.
As United looked to kill the game, Dorgu attempted a clever backheel to tee up Kobbie Mainoo, but Ben White got across to block. Then, a dangerous cross from substitute Matheus Cunha was cut out at the near post by Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal levelled in dramatic fashion in the 84th minute. Saka whipped in a dangerous before Lammens came rushing out and misjudged his punch, Cunha’s clearance was hooked off the line, and Mikel Merino was quickest to react - his follow-up trickled over the line before Benjamin Šeško could hook it away.
The scramble gave the Emirates a jolt of belief, but United hit back almost instantly. Matheus Cunha collected a neat pass from Kobbie Mainoo around 30 yards out, turned on the half-volley, cut in and curled a brilliant strike into the bottom-right, leaving Raya with no chance.
In the frantic closing stages, Carrick shifted to a more guarded 5-4-1 system, replacing Amad Diallo with Noussair Mazraoui on his return from the Africa Cup of Nations to shore up the defence.
Arsenal hurled bodies forward in a desperate search for an equaliser. Rice’s corner was bravely punched clear by Lammens, and Lisandro Martínez produced a vital lunging block on Saka inside the area, capping off an excellent display. Despite a nervy final few minutes and end-to-end late chances, United held firm to cling on for a hard-fought victory.
Another stellar outing from the 21-year-old Dane. Since Ruben Amorim’s departure, he’s been pushed into a more advanced wide role, and it has visibly revived his game - the extra freedom has allowed him to play higher up the pitch and attack opponents more aggressively.
Dangerous and direct, he provided the decisive moment with an outstanding, composed finish, but it was his all-round contribution that stood out: intelligent wide runs, neat combinations in tight areas, probing crosses, and relentless pressing off the ball made him a constant menace down the left.
Confident on the ball and willing to take players on, he not only created chances but also helped his team maintain tempo in transition.