Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber, middle proper, heads the ball to attain his facet’s first aim throughout the English Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates stadium in London, on December 4, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Jurrien Timber and William Saliba scored from corners to present Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Manchester United on the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday (December 4, 2024), reducing the hole to Premier League leaders Liverpool and ending Ruben Amorim’s unbeaten begin.
The Gunners threatened from set items however little else in a surprisingly subdued first half, with Thomas Partey unable to direct a harmful Declan Rice nook that injured defender Gabriel might effectively have transformed.
United goalkeeper Andre Onana twice wanted to punch clear from corners, with the second presenting a half-chance for Gabriel Martinelli who sliced his shot excessive and broad.
The guests had been content material to sluggish the sport down and retain possession, however went shut earlier than the break as Diogo Dalot dragged his effort broad from a decent angle.
Arsenal had been sharper after the restart and took the lead from one other Rice nook within the 54th minute, with Timber heading in from a decent angle.
United practically levelled from a set piece of their very own shortly after, however David Raya produced an outstanding fingertip save at full stretch to claw away Matthijs de Ligt’s goalbound header.
Set-piece aim once more
Arsenal put the sport to mattress within the 73rd minute when Partey’s header from a Bukayo Saka supply bounced off Saliba and in for Arsenal’s twenty second league aim from a nook for the reason that begin of final season.
“Till the set items the sport did not have too many alternatives for either side, the set items killed the sport,” Amorim advised the BBC.
Rice practically added a 3rd earlier than substitute Mikel Merino headed previous the submit from the ensuing nook, as every set piece generated a roar of expectation.
Arsenal shut hole
Arsenal noticed the sport out to capitalise on Liverpool’s draw at Newcastle United, with the victory placing them third behind Chelsea on aim distinction on 28 factors from 14 video games — with the hole to the leaders now seven factors.
Throughout a small wobble whereas influential captain Martin Odegaard was injured, critics had questioned Arsenal’s title credentials however Rice stated that was untimely.
“Folks get carried away with the title discuss,” he advised Amazon Prime. “I used to be concerned in my first one final yr and also you simply must be in and round it in February time.”
His supervisor Mikel Arteta advised reporters: “It is true that we went via so much in that interval … you need to react. It is about attempting to do it subsequent. “Right now, now we have received 4 in a row — it does not matter, we’ve to go to Fulham and be higher than them.”
Amorim’s first loss
Amorim’s first loss as United supervisor — and his first league defeat since his former membership Sporting had been overwhelmed by Vitoria de Guimaraes in December, 2023 — left them eleventh on 19 factors.
Amorim noticed positives from United, particularly within the first half. “I make the analysis of a recreation whatever the end result, he advised reporters. “The 4-0 (win towards Everton), you possibly can take constructive issues however you need to enhance and also you already knew that.
“You may really feel it within the first half, particularly on the finish of the primary half, you possibly can really feel that they weren’t comfy, you possibly can really feel it within the stadium, so you possibly can take that.”
Man Metropolis ends stoop
Manchester Metropolis’s horrible run of six defeats from seven video games in all competitions ended as targets by Bernardo Silva, captain Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku towards Nottingham Forest put Metropolis fourth on 26 factors.
“Right now is hopefully a primary step to enhance,” De Bruyne stated. “It’s good to vary the momentum. In some video games we misplaced there have been durations we weren’t enjoying unhealthy.”
Large win for Chelsea
Arsenal path Chelsea on aim distinction after Enzo Maresca’s facet thumped hapless Southampton 5-1.
Chelsea took the lead within the seventh minute via Axel Disasi’s header however Joe Aribo drew Southampton degree 4 minutes later earlier than a goalkeeping howler allowed Christopher Nkunku to place the guests again forward.
Noni Madueke prolonged Chelsea’s lead earlier than a second of insanity noticed Jack Stephens despatched off for a hair-pull on Marc Cucurella. Late targets by Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho rounded off the win.
Printed – December 05, 2024 10:41 am IST
