Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal
Manchester United won a pulsating clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Thursday night as Cristiano Ronaldo stole the headlines once again by scoring a brace.
Emile Smith Rowe gave the Gunners an early lead in the most bizarre manner before Bruno Fernades levelled on the stroke of half-time. The teams traded blows as Cristiano Ronaldo made it 2-1 to United before Martin Odegaard levelled, and then the Norwegian gave away a penalty which Ronaldo converted.
In the days gone by, the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal was the big fixture in the English football calendar as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger locked horns. But now there are new kids on the block, with the Premier League 2021 betting odds steadfast in supporting Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool from the very start of the season.
Tonight was a throwback to better days for these famous old clubs and for the fans of Manchester United, it was a night to savour. At the same time, it was a fitting parting gift from United caretaker manager Michael Carrick.
Highlights of the game
The Gunners almost made the perfect start when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a sight of goal and hit a sweet shot only to see it deflected narrowly wide. Arsenal looked the brighter of the two teams and, on 14 minutes, they had the ball in the net in the strangest of circumstances.
As United cleared a cross, David de Gea fell to the ground after a collision with Fred and as the ball looped out to Smith Rowe and he fired home from 20 yards.
The United goalkeeper was still floored and he would have saved the shot comfortably, but there was no foul as referee Martin Atkinson hadn’t whistled. It’s the first time any of us had seen a goal like that before, but there was no other option for the ref than to give it.
Both teams were stunned, one happy and the other distraught, and the Red Devils tried to take the game to their visitors.
Harry Maguire took a couple of long-range pot shots while, at the other end, Gabriel Martinelli forced a save from de Gea after great wing work from Martin Odegaard.
United drew level in first half injury time as Fred got his redemption. The Brazilian got in behind the Arsenal defence and flicked a perfect ball back to Fernandes who stroked it into the corner for the equaliser.
United’s fast finish to the half set them up beautifully for the second period and they were 2-1 up on 51 minutes when Ronaldo swept home a low cross from Marcus Rashford.
And then as the breathless football continued, Arsenal were level within a minute with a copycat goal. This time, it was Martinelli who squared for Odegaard to steer the ball into the bottom left corner.
In a thrilling encounter, Both teams went for the winner as Aubameyang stung de Gea’s palms with a fierce drive and then Fred went down under a pointless challenge from Odegaard and VAR adjudged that it was a penalty. Up stepped Ronaldo to smash it down the centre of the goal for 3-2.
The recently sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must have been watching with mixed emotions as Old Trafford erupted again.
Arsenal weren’t finished and de Gea had to save again from Aubameyang after a fast break and Bukayo Saka chipped into the keeper’s hands when he should have done better.
With the clock ticking down, Fred made a great block to deny Saka and man-of-the-match Ronaldo cleared the resulting corner. Cristiano Ronaldo was the star all over the pitch.
Key statistics
The announcement of Ralph Rangnick’s arrival as Manchester United interim head coach was the big Premier League 2021 news last week and now he needs to get to work.
So what did he learn from this clash?
His new team showed fight. And although they conceded possession and had fewer shots, they earned the three points.
Rangnick already knew what a special talent Ronaldo is. The Portuguese sensation scored his 800th goal for club and country, and then his 801st.
Arsenal had three clean sheets against Manchester United before this clash and were unbeaten in the last six league encounters.
Smith Rowe’s goal was the ninth in succession conceded by the Red Devils at Old Trafford since they last scored one. So Fernandes’ goal, his first in 15 games, took the roof off.
What’s next?
On Sunday, the Red Devils have a home match against an old foe in Patrick Vieira, who brings his Crystal Palace to Old Trafford.
Here at SBOTOP, we’ll be previewing that game and bringing the best odds, liveliest opinions, and the stats to get us thinking.
Vieira, as an Arsenal midfielder, had some brilliant battles with Roy Keane when the Irish enforcer ran United’s midfield with an iron fist.
The Eagles will arrive after back-to-back defeats and the Old Trafford faithful are unlikely to give Vieira a warm welcome.
Arsenal have to wait until Monday for their next game when they are up in the North West again to take on Rafa Benitez’ Everton.
The Toffees have been having a bad time in recent weeks and took a 4-1 hammering in the Mersey Derby on Wednesday, which was their sixth defeat in seven league games.
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