Arsenal 3-1 Man United – Premier League RECAP: That’s what £105m pays for! Declan Rice nets 96th-minute winner with his first Gunners goal, before Gabriel Jesus adds a third

Recap Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest updates as Arsenal host an injury-hit Manchester United side at the Emirates Stadium.

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Thanks for joining us today. We hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we have enjoyed bringing you updates from another memorable Premier League clash between two giants.

Check out the rest of Mail Sport for all the post-match reaction and more.

It was a crazy finish to a crazy game as Arsenal edged out United in the dying embers.

Describing his emotions on Sky Sports after the game, Arteta said: ‘We work everyday for moments like this, it was beautiful at the end to celebrate at the end woth the fans. It shows that sport at this level is at about the small margins.

‘I am jealous of Declan for scoring at the end like this. They are a dangerous team but we created the moments to win the game. He was outstanding, an I think the whole team as well. He gave his momentum when the team needed it.

‘Really happy with the performance. [Garnacho] it was frustrating and was going to be hard to take, but is the beautiful thing we can turn it around. It is a beautiful thing, when I see a team that has that will to win, that eagerness to go and go, it’s beautiful, and the crowd loves that as well.’

Four Premier League games in and now is the time for the first international break of the new season.

United will return to host Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday, September 16.

Arsenal meanwhile will travel to Goodison Park on Sunday, September 17.

Gary Neville has praised ‘difference maker’ Declan Rice as the the Arsenal midfielder scored his first goal for the club in the Gunners’ dramatic 3-1 win over Man United.

It looked like the two old rivals were heading for a share of the points when the game entered eight minutes of added time locked at 1-1.

However, Rice found space on the lefthand side of the box from an Arsenal corner to fire past Andre Onana via a Jonny Evans deflected to win it for Mikel Arteta’s men.

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What an ending that was as Arsenal ran out victors in the most dramatic of circumstances. We have rounded up our pick of the best snapshots covering the emotions in the final minutes.

Elation for Arsenal, deflation for United.

Mike Dean has ruled the roost after Erik ten Hag’s complaints and has backed the offside call as the correct decision after Alejandro Garnacho’s late goal was chalked off and Arsenal went on to win the game.

Dean told Sky Sports: ‘It’s very very tight and I can understand why the assistant kept his flag down. I thought it was offside at first glance, when you put the lines up you can’t fault the technology.

‘I understand where Ten Hag is coming from but we have the technology there.’

 

That’s two wins and two defeats for United this season and they are already six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City. 

But, they can take confidence from today’s performance despite it being their heaviest defeat and second consecutive loss in the capital this season.

It was the most complete the Red Devils have looked in their opening four games and they could have won the game. The scoreline doesn’t reflect the performance of the visitor’s and they will feel hard done by after Arsenal’s late goals.

Erik ten Hag is seriously unhappy in his post-match interview with Sky Sports as he questions several refereeing decisions.

The United manager fumed: ‘I thought we played a good game but everything went against us. 

‘You saw the game, it’s not offside, that is the wrong angle, then a penalty on Hojlund, we concede a goal and that is a foul on Jonny Evans. I think this is a real step forward and I am happy with the performance.

‘We are now compact, very good defending in high and lower block, we break like the first goal. Calm on the ball and I see definite room for improvement and see how we go forward and miss some passes forward that we could have hurt them more.’

 

Declan Rice speaking to Sky Sports at full time: ‘The old me would have set that back for a cross but last minute of the game is fine margins and if you don’t shoot you don’t score.

‘Yeh [I do feel more pressure] Arsenal are a massive club, you always feel the pressure and I try to put in performances.

‘My fifth season in the Premier League and I want to take this club, along with everyone else, to the next level.

‘Yeh 100 per cent [thought Garnacho had won it], it’s the fine margins, I thought we were sloppy a few times with them on the coutner but it’s fine margins and when the quality on show in this game it is just the fine margins.’

Declan Rice was brought to Arsenal for £105m to make a difference and he has just done exactly that by scoring the winning goal against Manchester United.

He shares an embrace with Mikel Arteta on the pitch and will feel like a huge weight has been lifted from his shoulders after that.

United players will feel like their whole world has just caved in as they trudge off in what is the loudest atmosphere the Emirates has heard in a long time, but they can take credit from what was arguably their best performance of the season. The visitor’s probably deserved a point.

The full time whistle finally blows and the Emirates is going absolutely crazy as Arsenal run out 3-1 winners. What a crazy ending after Alejandro Garnacho thought he had won the game for United. 

Rice is the hero and chants of ‘Rice, Rice, baby’ rings round the crowd. Gabriel Jesus added a third as United searched for an equaliser and will feel they should have had a point today.

United pile bodies forward trying to get an equaliser and Arsenal break with Gabriel Jesus sealing all three points with a cute finish.

Rice surely wins it for Arsenal!! The Gunners finally get a corner right as Rice has time to set himself in the box and smash a shot towards goal. It creeps in at the near post and the Emirates goes mental!

United can’t get out their own half with the Gunners poking holes aroudn the edge of the box.

It’s all Arsenal in the dying embers and United are just looking to hold on!

Eight minutes will be played out here, who fancies making themselves a hero then?!

Gabriel Jesus has been booked for dissent and Reiss Nelson has replaced Martinelli amidst the drama.

It’s so so close as Saliba looks to be playing Garnacho on with his head but the check shows the Argentinian winger went just a second too early. What a moment.

Hojlund finally has some space to run as he goes at the Arsenal defence. He seems in two minds whether to pass or take it on and eventually is dispossessed rather robustly by Gabriel.

Wan-Bissaka again denies Martinelli with the resulting corner failing to beat the man at the front post. Wasteful.

Erik ten Hag looks to refresh his squad with a mix of youth and experience.

Off – Antony, Lindelof

On – Evans, Garnacho

Arsenal work the ball from wing-to-wing and the ball falls to Saka from six-yards out. He has to score but lacks conviction and his tame effort is straight at Onana. Huge moment for Arsenal to take the lead.

The United winger bursts forward with United having a three on two, Hojlund is sprinting alongside him and should be played in but Rashford waits and the chance goes begging.

Arteta rings the changes as Gabriel Jesus most notably makes his introduction.

Off – Nketiah, Zinchenko, Havertz

On – Jesus, Tomiyasu, Vieira

The visitor’s are looking to play now as Rashford wins a corner. Fernandes whips his delivery in but fails to beat the first man.

Rashford takes on White and does so well with a magic piece of skill to round the Arsenal full-back. Hojlund wanted to shoot but Saliba was there to clear. This match is finely poised.

The Dane is grappling with Gabriel and the Arsenal defender was worried there before he cleared. This could be a good battle in the closing exchanges.

Arsenal work a corner to the edge of the box and Martinelli’s shot has Onana scrambling. It is just wide of the post. Onana is then booked for timewasting.

The moment United fans have been waiting for as Hojlund makes his debut. What a chance he has to make himself a hero. Harry Maguire also replaces Lisandro Martines, Maguire needs a big performance in the remaining 25 minutes.

The United centre-back fouls Nketiah on the halfway line and is looking in discomfort. Harry Maguire is about to come on.

The penalty decision has given Arsenal a lift and they are working the ball around the edge of the visitor’s box. So far United’s defence is standing firm.

Taylor takes a look and then decides there is no penalty. There was contact but it was Havertz’ leg hitting Wan-Bissaka. Correct decision.

Havertz bursts through the middle of Wan-Bissaka and Casemiro and Anthony Taylor points to the spot. There isn’t much contact but probably enough for a penalty. VAR is checking.

United clear their lines with Fernandes hoofing the cross up into the Arsenal hafl.

Fernandes fouls Martinelli down near the corner flag and Arsenal will look to play this right on top of Onana.

Wan-Bissaka tackles Martinelli well again and Arsenal have a corner. It’s taken short with a series of passes around the edge of the box before the threat dissipates. 

United fans cheer in the away section of the Emirates as Rasmus Hojlund begins his warm-up. Debut is moments away.

Martial is slipped through and rifles a strong shot on-target that Ramsdale parries back into play. Rashford looks to follow-up on the rebound but his effort is blocked well by Saliba.

Arsenal are lively on the edge of the United box as the ball falls to Nketiah. He sets himself and then shoots with power that Lindelof does well to block.

Eriksen looks to try and keep a ball forward in play but slips on the Arsenal grass and the ball rolls out for a corner. The home crowd loved that moment, the Danish star perhaps not so much!

It’s Brazilian against Brazilian as Antony tracks Martinelli’s run into the United box and manages to bounce the ball back off the Arsenal winger and behind for a goal-kick. 

Onana is alert in his box to come out and meet White’s cross with confidence and take the sting out the Arsenal attack.

We are underway and hopefully will be treated to another enthralling 45 minutes.

Here come the players again and we are about to get underway for the second half.

We haven’t seen the Manchester United striker warming up at half time but you sense his debut isn’t far away at all.

Anthony Martial hasn’t done much in attack for United and their patient build-up play is screaming out for a centre forward who is willing to run in behind Arsenal’s defence.

Expect the youngster to come on after 10-15 minutes into the second half.

Arsenal get their eighth corner of the game at the end of the first half but fail to make anything clear-cut. 

United will be the happier of the two teams so far with Arsenal probably having the better chances, but it has been a good contest.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a brilliant finish in off the post, before Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard pulled his side level just 34 seconds later with a driven shot from the edge of the box.

Level terms at the interval and you sense there are more goals still to come in this one. Cracking entertainment from two teams looking to ignite their season against a rival.

Wan-Bissaka is up to the Brazlian’s challenge once again as he clears behind for a corner. Saka then shoots from outside the box but his effort is blocked behind again. The next corner is played short before a ball is then whipped into the box that United clear effectively.

Ten Hag’s side are enjoying a good spell here as they control possession. United don’t have loads of purpose though and are just being stifled a bit by Arsenal’s low block. 

A cross is stood up to Saka at the back-post and the United full-back has to time his jump perfectly. He does exactly that and wins the duel to clear the danger. He has done well so far up against Arsenal’s dangerman.

United’s captain has improved throughout the first half but is wasteful there as he kicks a pass through to Ramsdale. 

Saka catches Fernandes with raised studs right on the Portuguese midfielder’s foot. He catches him but it’s beneath the shin and a yellow card is shown by Anthony Taylor.

That’s really poor defending from Lindelof as he hauls down Nketiah just inside the United half. The centre-back thought the ball was running out for a throw-in but then realises it isn’t and Nketiah is surging forward. His only option is to hack the Arsenal man down. Just a yellow card as Wan-Bissaka was covering in the middle of the pitch.

The hosts have dropped their press just a little bit in the last few moments and that is giving United the freedom to carry the ball out of defence a little bit more. Possible tactical change from Arteta there.

Arsenal want to keep the game high tempo, while United want to just slow things down a little bit after finding themselves pegged back after Rashford’s opener. The Gunners look lively on the counter-attack but the visitor’s are threatening as well. The next goal will be crucial.

This clash is alive and kicking with Arsenal finding themselves back on level terms just 34 seconds after United had opened the scoring. The hosts have been the better team so far but Rashford was clinical. What a game we have on our hands as United win a corner.

What a response from the hosts as United fail to wake up from the restart and Martinelli places his cut-back on a plate for Odegaard. The Gunners captain makes no mistake as he smashes an effort into the bottom corner.

FInally United click as Eriksen carries the ball over the halfway line and plays a beautiful pass to Rashford. The Englishman stands White up as he cuts inside and curls in a beautiful effort in off the post. Liftoff for United.

The new rules on kicking the ball away when play is stopped has produces numerous yellow cards this season. Antony escapes one there as he fortunately just about booted the ball away before the whistle was blown. Arsenal fans are not happy.

Things are heating up a bit as a couple of challenges go in that get the crowd up on their feet. Saka fouls Dalot, Arsenal fans don’t think so but he takes his leg out and play is correctly stopped. Rashford then has a nibble at Ben White, with Saka also going down. We have a match on our hands.

United’s defenders are doing well with the ball, but as soon as it’s played up to midfield they are losing possession. The space is there for the visitor’s to exploit but Casemiro, Eriksen and Fernandes are wasting their chances to make something happen. 

These two are coming up against one another so often at the start of the match here with neither pulling any punches. Martinelli this time gets some space to clip a cross in that is cleared well by Martinez. The resulting corner is met by Declan Rice who heads over.

Arsenal are piling bodies forward when Onana has the ball but United are maintaining their approach of playing out from the back. They actually look quite confident in doing so but need to be wary of the pace of the Arsenal forwards.

Thehosts have had a few corners early on here but are wasting those set-piece chances. The recent attempt is right on Onana who punches clear with two fists.

United mess up a clearance in the box and it is on a plate for Havertz to score an easy goal. He takes a huge swing but scuffs the ball and it rolls away out for a corner. Awful attempt.

Neither side has started electrically but the warning signs are there. Arsenal have looked fluid when attacking down the wings but United are enjoying more of the possession.

Yet to see much of Marcus Rashford or Bukayo Saka yet but those two can come alive at any moment.

Bruno Fernandes and Odegaard seem to be marking one another and that looks like a great battle.

United’s Brazilian winger brings down a pass really well and then chips it over Havrtz’ head. The German is having none of it and takes him out. Free-kick and a yellow card should really have followed.

The United goalkeeper brings the ball up nearly all the way to the halfway line but then hits it straight up to the Arsenal defence. Wasteful when United had plenty of bodies forward.

Arsenal are pressing United really high up as Martinez’s long pass is hit straight out of play. It doesn’t look like United want the ball at the moment, Arsenal are hungry to attack.

United look to get down the right-wing through Antony but he is blocked off well by Gabriel before Zinchenko mops up the loose ball. Casemiro then stretches his hands out telling the Red Devils to calm down and they need to listen to him. 

Martinelli takes on Aaron Wan-Bissaka and wins a corner. That will be an interesting battle to keep an eye on. The corner is taken short and almost catches United  out. They need to wake up!

It’s a simple ball over the top for Gabriel Martinelli and he brings it down in acres of space. He looks up trying to find Martin Odegaard but Lisandro Martinez clears well. Shaky start from the visitor’s.

We are underway.

The Emirates is set and we are minutes from getting underway as the two teams emerge from the tunnel. Strap yourselves in because this is going to be a HUGE match.

Man United’s new star striker is on the bench, but Rasmus Hojlund will come on at some point in today’s game. Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag has been speaking to Sky Sports pre-match and is backing the Denmark international to be dangerous when he comes on.

‘I think so [big game], two teams who can defend very good so that will be interesting. We are looking to be on the front foot, to be brave on the ball, to give each other options.

‘We are looking for that and we will have to take the out of their comfort zone. They’ll try and to the same to us I’m sure.

‘[Hojlund] I think we have a very good line up but he’s a threat. You see already how much energy he can bring in his movements. [Staring Hojlund?] No, he has had one week of training its not enough.’

Bukayo Saka is one of the best wingers in world football and will be up against a right-back being deployed at left-back in the form of Diogo Dalot.

The Portuguese must be fearful going into this match and if he doesn’t get a grip of the Arsenal star in the first few exchanges between the pair then it promises to be a long afternoon.

Let Saka get into his flow and United’s armour will be broken down.

The competition for the main striker role at Arsenal is between Nketiah and Jesus. Today, Arteta has opted for the former and the Englishman is in good form with two goals in three appearances. But this choice is still a gamble.

Jesus has the big game experience and was influential in Arsenal’s good form last season, while it can be argued that Nketiah has a more direct goal threat than the Brazilian.

Expect Jesus to feature at some point in this match.

United’s last trip to London ended with a 2-0 defeat against Spurs, today could be a similar result if the visitors are overrun in midfield. But they do have weapons of their own that the Gunners need to be wary of. 

Gabriel is making his first start of the season in defence and any ring rust will be exploited by Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. United’s biggest weapon could be off the bench with Rasmus Hojlund made to wait for his debut and it would be disappointing to see him come on with United badly behind.

Casemiro and Eriksen will be responsible for getting the ball forward and they have creativity that can poke holes in Mikel Arteta’s side. It’s a big ask but despite being wounded, they still pose a threat.

Thomas Partey will Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United today, after the Ghana FA confirmed he’ll miss this month’s internationals through injury.

Partey has started the Gunners last three games of the season at right-back, but Mikel Arteta will be without the Ghanaian for the visit of United, meaning a defensive reshuffle for the Spanish boss.

Partey was not called up for the latest Ghana squad for this month’s African Cup of Nations qualifers against the Central African Republic and Liberia, with the Ghanaian FA claiming that according to the club, the midfielder will be sidelined ‘for a while’.

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Familiar faces and some new arriving for Man United at the Emirates. Hojlund will have to wait a little longer for his debut  

GK: Onana

DEF: Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot

MID: Fernandes, Casemiro, Eriksen

FOR: Rashford, Martial, Anthony

SUBS: Bayindir, Evans, Maguire, Reguilon, Gore, Hannibal, Pellistri, Garnacho, Hojlund

GK: Ramsdale

DEF: White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko

MID: Rice, Havertz, Odegaard

FOR: Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah

SUBS: Raya, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Vieira, Trpssard, Jesus

Arsenal vs Man United ends the final matchweek before the first international break of the season. Let’s take a look at the results from Friday and Saturday’s action. 

Luton Town 1-2 West Ham 

Sheffield United 2-2 Everton

Man City 5-1 Fulham 

Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest

Burnley 2-5 Tottenham 

Brentford 2-2 Bournemouth

Brighton 3-1 Newcastle

There was speculation this morning that Thomas Partey would be unavailable through injury. While the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, Eddie Nketiah are also questions marks for the Gunners starting XI.

We’ll have team news for you in less than 30 minutes, when it’ll be confirmed whether Rasmus Hojlund will get his first start or even make his first appearance for United. 

Manager Erik ten Hag spoke on the youngster at his pre-match press conference, saying: ‘He had a good training week, so tomorrow we have final training but he’s doing well, he’s responded well. So he will be available for Sunday’s game.’

Hello and welcome to the Mail Sport’s coverage of this weekend’s marquee fixture and the last before the first international break of the season. 

Both Arsenal and Man United are always eager to win these encounters but after making stuttering starts to the campaign, despite favorable points totals, the pair will be desperate to not lose.

With Man City maintaining their 100 percent record, Mikel Arteta’s side know they can ill afford to drop many more points, while Erik ten Hag will be hoping to manage his injury-hit troops through the tough away fixtures. 

We’ll have all the news in the lead up to this afternoon’s 4:30pm kick; team news and quotes from the bosses when they come through. Before keeping you up to date with all the action after kick-off. 

So make sure you stay with us! Let’s get to it.

 

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