Arsenal score twice in stoppage time to topple Manchester United

Erik ten Hag is upset with officials after Manchester United failed to get a point from the Emirates Stadium.

“I think we deserved to win this game but you don’t always get what you deserve. ... I look more at how we step up and if you see from the Wolves game to this game there is big progression. Tonight was a team, I am really happy with this performance and the progress of our performance. We did well, we make progress, stick to the plan and believe and in the future we will win games like this.”

He thinks there were huge mistakes from referees at the end of the game, citing:

• the wrong line used to call Garnacho offside and take back United’s second goal
• an ungiven penalty to Rasmus Hojlund for a foul in the Arsenal box
• an uncalled foul on Jonny Evans before Declan Rice lashed in the match-winning goal.

Salty!

Here’s more from Ten Hag:

Declan Rice is buzzing, and a little sheepish, from the love showered on him by Arsenal fans (from Sky Sports, via the BBC):

“Of course Arsenal is a massive club and you feel the pressure but I try to put in performances. I am eager to learn and improve and we want to push to the next level. Everyone’s been amazing. I like to have a laugh and speak to people and I have settled in well. Everyone has made me feel welcome.”

“It is so special. Just to see it again. Like I said, I can’t control the price. But when I came here I tried as much as possible to block that out and I want to be consistent. I have started life at Arsenal well but I have so much more I can do.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to Sky Sports (via the BBC)

“We work and do everything we do every day for moments like this. This is sport at the top level, it is about the small margins. It could have gone either way. ... I am really happy obviously. They are a great team, really well-coached, and they make life difficult for you. When we gave the goal away that we did you are always up against it and in the Premier League that is dangerous.”

“It is a beautiful thing how these turn around and we won the game. We have been so dominant. Against Fulham it was a similar story. The team deserves more. When I see a team with that will to win, the eagerness to go and go, it is beautiful.”

Here’s more, in video form, from Mikel:

The advanced stats love Bukayo Saka’s day, a player we hadn’t discussed all that much here, so let’s dive into the numbers.

Saka got the assist on his corner kick that got through to Rice, and was credited with five created chances, three shots, and six recoveries. Not bad at all.

Rice was good, registering 85 touches including 13 passes into the final third. He was caught in the press when United countered for its goal, but did have five recoveries.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was strong for United. He made nine clearances and stuck into tackles for much of the game.

Arsenal vs Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)

This will be cast deep into this rivalry’s lore, and certainly bodes well for the already strong reputation of Declan Rice.

This game needed difference makers. Man United got one from Marcus Rashford and looked to have one from Bruno Fernandes but his assist to Alejandro Garnacho came with the latter in an offside position.

Arsenal scored through its captain Martin Odegaard and its summer signal of intent in English star Declan Rice. And, of course, don’t forget about last season’s big signing: Gabriel Jesus.

Big win after drawing Fulham last week at home. Big, big win.

He looks offside but that’s apparently just a terrific run.

Gabriel Jesus has added a third goal to Arsenal’s account, sprung by Fabio Vieira as subs combine to give the Gunners a bit more delirium.

And to think: Some Gooners left this one at 1-1!

It’s 3-1 to the Gunners now.

We were moments from a “this draw was fair” line and then the big money man stepped up for Arsenal.

Declan Rice was alone at the back post deep in stoppage time, and he ripped a shot that was partially blocked by Evans.

Andre Onana can’t reach it, and all of Arsenal is going nuts. Rice stands a bit longer than the others to soak in the joy surrounding his first goal for the Gunners.

2-1 Arsenal.

That’s an inspired sub from Erik ten Hag, as Alejandro Garnacho races through to Aaron Ramsdale from a Bruno Fernandes through ball.

There’s an offside review here. William Saliba tried to hop back as Garnacho started his run.

The lines are drawn. It’s very, very close. And it’s offside! VAR has deprived both teams today.

1-1 heading into eight minutes stoppage.

Yes, you’ve read that correctly: Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire are partnered at the back of Manchester United in the Year 2023.

That’s it. That’s the post.

This reinvigorated Arsenal cuts through the Manchester United back line with ease.

Gabriel Jesus has a lay-off, Martin Odegaard a touch or two, and the ball is through to the doorstep for Bukayo Saka.

But Andre Onana has read it well and is well-positioned to get in front of the low drive.

Still 1-1, 82'

Arsenal takes off Eddie Nketiah, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Kai Havertz.

On? Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasi, and Fabio Vieira.

Time ticking away on the Gunners, who could drop points at home for a second-straight week.

Lisandro Martinez has picked up a yellow card for a nasty sliding challenge on Eddie Nketiah, and he’s also picked up a knock.

Martinez wants to come off and Harry Maguire will take his place.

Also on is Rasmus Hojlund for Anthony Martial. It’s a Premier League debut for a big-money signing.

Kai Havertz could be through on goal as he cuts between Casemiro and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to get to Eddie Nketiah’s through ball.

Anthony Taylor points to the spot, and it looks an ice-cold penalty but the review sure raises questions.

It looks an awful lot like Havertz hits the deck without firm contact from Wan-Bissaka, and Taylor is sent to the screen.

He sees what we see, and thinks it’s enough to say he was wrong with the initial call.

Aaron Ramsdale’s suddenly busy in the 54th minute.

He has to deny Anthony Martial’s left-footed shot from an acute angle on the left, and Marcus Rashford rushes to put in a left-footed rebound shot.

Ramsdale’s got that one, too, and United is keeping possession after Arsenal controlled the first nine minutes of the second half.

Rasmus Hojlund is spotted warming up on the sidelines. Debut time?

Still 1-1.

Two sweet strikes from stars — one set up by a marvelous long Christian Eriksen pass — have this even at the break.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring and has made the most of just nine touches on the half.

Martin Odegaard’s answer, quickfire at that, was from a half of similar frustration.

United’s held 56% possession but Arsenal has six of the game’s nine shots and the Gunners have five corners.

Ring in the choruses of “all to play for.”

Bukayo Saka is dropped by the arm of Diogo Dalot as they battle for the ball, which squirts free toward Bruno Fernandes.

The falling Saka thinks he can reach it but all he does is get his blades stuck into Fernandes’ foot. The Portuguese doesn’t need a request to make the most of it, and it’s a yellow for Saka.

That’s Saka and Lindelof in the books amongst six fouls between the teams.

There’s a long ball and Victor Lindelof thinks it’s headed out of bounds.

Eddie Nketiah doesn’t — and he’s correct.

Lindelof has to dart into action and his high boot comes close to Nketiah’s face while his sliding, trailing leg cuts down the English striker.

It’s a yellow card, but it was close to worse due to the danger involved. Nasty stuff, but definitely not last man back.

Quite a response from the captain.

Andre Onana is telling Man United to calm down moments after cameras caught him riotously celebrating the goal. It’s football, y’all.

Eddie Nketiah spots Gabriel Martinelli, who makes amends for his earlier error by finding Martin Odegaard.

Classy finish and an emotional response from the captain.

1-1!

Declan Rice and Arsenal are caught in a high, high press as Gabriel Martinelli’s ill-advised pass is picked off by Christian Eriksen.

The longtime Arsenal rival hits a tremendous low through ball onto the path of Marcus Rashford, who makes room around Ben White and smashes off Aaron Ramsdale and inside the far post.

Manchester United, 1-0, on its first shot attempt of the day.

Declan Rice has had a strong start, springing the early rush that led to Kai Havertz’s aforementioned big miss and now having a miss of his own.

Rice gets tall and reaches a back post corner kick, but pops his header over the goal. His disappointment is visible.

Arsenal with just a bit more of the ball but all three of the game’s attempts.

A cross into the box is headed down onto the path of Kai Havertz.

He’s fantastically-positioned for... a comical miss.

Havertz’s almost 90% air kick looks more like a pass to an unsuspecting Eddie Nketiah, and Manchester United has a huge let off early in this one.

0-0.

Energy befitting the hype here, as Arsenal and Manchester United are buzzing around the pitch.

It’s all a little too much and we’ve yet to see real threat but both teams want to play an all-action game, or at least it seems so.

Promising.

We could see Rasmus Hojlund’s Premier League debut by the end of this one, but Anthony Martial starts up top.

Lisandro Martinez partners with Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans are center backs on the bench as Raphael Varane’s injury absence affects proceedings.

Oleksandr Zinchenko gets the start at left back and Eddie Nketiah keeps his place up top.

Gabriel Jesus is on the bench with Leandro Trossard and Jorginho, amongst others.

Is this the week we see big forward Rasmus Hojlund make his Manchester United debut? The big man’s in training.

Tom Heaton, Amad Diallo, Tyrell Malacia, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, and Kobbie Mainoo are all missing for the trip to London.

Varane and the pair of injured left backs will ask a lot of Erik ten Hag, who has Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Harry Maguire amongst his back line options.

Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford both feel due for a goal-scoring outburst, but Arsenal’s been stingy at the back.

Eddie Nketiah’s working through some knee problems but hasn’t been ruled out of the match and has been called up for England duty by Gareth Southgate.

Jurrien Timber remains out with his ACL injury while Mohamed Elneny has yet to return from a long-term knee injury.

Gabriel Jesus returned to action off the subs’ bench and could be fit for a bigger role against the Red Devils.