Eddie Nketiah scores the late winner at the Emirates (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
Eddie Nketiah admitted his heart skipped a beat while VAR checked his
late Arsenal winner over Manchester United that boosted their hopes of a
first Premier League title for 19 years.
‘You could see how much we wanted to win and how badly we wanted it for ourselves and our fans,’ said Nketiah. ‘I just kept going and I knew if I was
around and alert the way we were playing I would get a chance.
In-form Nketiah netted twice as the Gunners won a thrilling match 3-2 to reach the halfway point of the season on 50 points – five clear of Manchester City at the top.
‘I saw Martinez next to me so I thought I was onside but when you see that purple screen come up, your heart always goes a bit.’
This is Arsenal’s best points haul at this stage of a Premier League season but they didn’t have things all their own way.
With the scores level in the dying seconds, Nketiah was played onside by Lisandro Martinez as he turned home a shot from Martin Odegaard to secure a memorable victory.
Bukayo Saka and Nketiah celebrate victory at full-time (Picture: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
Marcus Rashford continued his sizzling form with a stunning opener for United, the only side to have beaten the Gunners in the league this term, firing home after Thomas Partey lost the ball.
The hosts were soon level after Granit Xhaka crossed superbly for Nketiah to nod home.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor for his protests following a foul by Luke Shaw on the outstanding Bukayo Saka.
It was Saka who gave Arsenal the lead eight minutes after the restart with a magnificent 25-yard strike.
Aaron Ramsdale made a fine save to deny Rashford an equaliser but a mix-up between the keeper and Takehiro Tomiyasu at a corner allowed Martinez to head is first United goal.
Nketiah scores the opener against Manchester United (Picture: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
With new signing Leandro Trossard on as a substitute, Arsenal piled on the pressure late on and Nketiah’s winner sent the Emirates wild.
Arteta said: ‘We never panicked, we kept believing. Emotional, a lot of passion and a lot of quality. It doesn’t get much better than that.’
MORE : Aaron Ramsdale’s unusual celebration in Arsenal’s win over Man Utd explained
MORE : Erik ten Hag warns Man Utd won’t win trophies unless they make key change
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In-form forward nets twice to sink Red Devils.
