Premier League
Arsenal Edge Past Manchester United To Keep Premier League Title Hope Alive
Arsenal secured a vital 1-0 victory against Manchester United, with Leandro Trossard’s first-half goal proving to be the difference at Old Trafford.
The win kept the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes alive and also marked a significant moment as they tasted victory in just the second time in their last 17 away head-to-head against Manchester United.
The match started with Rasmus Højlund missing a big opportunity for Manchester United after Scott McTominay dispossessed Thomas Partey. Despite the early miss, this moment helped the hosts settle after facing a tough start against a determined Arsenal side.
Alejandro Garnacho and Gabriel Magalhães were involved in a key moment when Garnacho’s shot was deflected off-target by Magalhães, who later headed the ball onto the roof of the net. However, Arsenal found their rhythm in the 21st minute when Ben White exploited Casemiro’s slow reaction, releasing Kai Havertz, who set up Trossard for a simple finish, marking his fourth goal in five games.
Following the opener, Arsenal controlled large periods of the game, with full-backs Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White both testing the United defense with shots. Despite Arsenal’s dominance, Amad Diallo impressed during his third-ever Premier League start, providing moments of encouragement for the Red Devils.
Arsenal came close to doubling their lead, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot made crucial blocks to deny Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka respectively. William Saliba also had his chance to extend the lead but headed onto the roof of the net, before making a vital tackle to stop Garnacho in his tracks.
As the game progressed, the Old Trafford crowd urged their team forward, with Garnacho posing a threat to the Arsenal defense, albeit firing into the side netting. Arsenal goalkeeper André Onana made important saves from Gabriel Martinelli and Rice as the Gunners pushed for a late second goal.
Ultimately, Arsenal’s resilient performance secured a fifth consecutive win, moving them back to the top of the table with a one-point lead, although Manchester City have a game in hand.
In contrast, Manchester United’s struggles continued, with just one win from their last eight league games, leaving them in eighth place and on course for their worst finish in Premier League history.
