Arsenal moved seven points clear of leaders Liverpool as Jurien Timber and William Saliba scored from corners to hand Ruben Amorim his first defeat as Manchester United manager.
Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle gave Arsenal a chance to close the gap, and after a disappointing first half against a well-drilled Amorim side, their betting prowess proved decisive.
In the absence of the injured Gabriel Magalhaes, it was the Timbers who took the lead after the break when he headed home Declan Rice’s wicked delivery at the near post for his first goal for Arsenal.
Saliba doubled their lead when Saka sent a pass from the opposite side to the back post where Thomas Partey headed the ball home and it bounced behind his team-mate.
William Saliba celebrates scoring against Manchester United
Saliba’s second goal took Arsenal’s tally to seven this season, the highest in the Premier League, and they could have had more as successive deliveries caused confusion in the Manchester United box and Mikel Merino shot just wide. when not noticed.another Saka center.
Arsenal were indebted to David Raya for a one-handed save from Matisse de Ligt’s header before Saliba’s goal.
But the hosts were deserved winners and Amorim’s side failed to withstand their second-half pressure despite a disciplined first-half display, ensuring Arsenal could use Liverpool’s drop at St James’ Park to boost their title hopes.
Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Southampton means Arsenal are now third on goal difference, but the gap at the top is closing in. Manchester United are 11th with the defeat.
Arteta: We can hurt teams from all angles
“Arsenal” head coach Mikel Arteta in his press conference.
“Very happy. It was a very special night to celebrate 500 games in this incredible stadium against a rival with so much history.
“Very pleased with how we played, after tweaking a few things in the second half, and how dominant we were, so a lot of positives.”
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Manchester United’s Tyrell Malasia fight for the ball
About the threat of “Arsenal”.We need it. We want to be very dangerous and effective in every aspect of the game and in every phase.
“We could score from open play like we did against West Ham and Sporting. The team has belief. We can threaten the opposition from all sides.
Rice: People wrote us off, but we stuck together
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to Amazon Prime.
“It’s a massive result. What a night. We knew there was a new manager at Manchester United and they looked really good.
“We knew it was going to be a test, we stuck to our game plan, we stuck to what we knew and we could have had three or four in the end.
“You have to believe in our process. We kept it. It’s a chance to score, not a chance to rest. I’m so happy guys.” for
“When you have a match, you get written off. We knew the results weren’t good enough. We knew we could do better, and now we see a turnaround.” “.
Amorim. The sets were the difference
Head coach of “Manchester United” Ruben Amorim at his press conference.
“We worked a lot on building. You can see the structure and the idea. But then in the last part, in the last third, you can see that we have to improve, be more aggressive and have more ideas.
“I appreciate the game regardless of the result. Like I said against Everton, you can take positive things but you have to improve.
“In the first half, especially at the end of the first half, you could feel that they were not comfortable, you could feel it in the stadium.
Arsenal’s Jurien Timber runs with the ball against Manchester United
“We managed to control the right side very well. I think the difference was in the shots. After the first goal, it was really difficult for us to control the game, but that was it.”
About the selection of his team. “It’s not because I like to change all the time. Harry Maguire has a time limit, Mason Mount has a time limit.
“We have to manage winning games, with a different methodology, more meters for pressing, and we will evaluate tomorrow, those guys who are at risk of injury will not play.”
Analysis: Arsenal’s corners have become a form of psychological warfare
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright.
Even in the first half, before the Timbers’ opener, the home fans at the Emirates Stadium could be heard celebrating corners as if they were goals. Arsenal’s opponents knew what to expect. Stopping it is another matter.
Arsenal’s total of 22 goals scored from corners is the most of any side in the Premier League since the start of last season. . only two.
Timber’s goal came in a series of deliveries that caused chaos in the Manchester United box as Arsenal repeated the method they did for West Ham on Saturday, when players gathered at the far post and fired at goal.
Saliba doubles Arsenal’s lead from Thomas Partey’s header
Then, with Amorim’s hostage players expecting Saka to follow Rice’s example and direct him to the same spot, he instead outpaced Manchester United by curling one towards the far post where Partey was waiting to tap home to Saliba.
It’s a testament to the quality of the routine designed by their specialist coach Nicolas Jover and the deliveries sent in by Sakha and Rice that Arsenal were able to do so much damage without their most dangerous set-up weapon in Gabriel.
As Arteta stated in his pre-match press conference, their strikes are a collective effort. That’s something Amorim understands. Even afterwards, Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are happy to force corners, knowing the damage they can do. deliver.
They have turned into a form of psychological warfare, with tensions heightened by carefully orchestrated delays to their takeover.Manchester United was their latest victim. It will happen again.
Arsenal’s deadly corners
- Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored more goals from corners (22) than any other team in the Premier League, with 10 of them opening the match, also the most in the league this term.
- Manchester United conceded two goals from corners in a Premier League game for the first time since January 2014 (two against Chelsea, both scored by Samuel Eto’o).
- The two players with the most assists in the Premier League since the start of last season are Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka (7 each, with Rice now level with Saka).
