Arsenal defeats Manchester United to close gap on Liverpool

By Olaolu Joseph

Arsenal capitalized on set-pieces to comfortably defeat Manchester United, handing Ruben Amorim his first loss in English football.

Defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba delivered the decisive goals as Arsenal trimmed Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table, following the Reds’ dropped points. Arsenal now sits third with 28 points, level with Chelsea and seven behind Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

The home side broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when Declan Rice’s corner was met by Jurrien Timber, who headed in at the near post. Arsenal nearly doubled their lead moments later when United’s Manuel Ugarte cleared off the line after teammate Joshua Zirkzee inadvertently flicked on another Rice delivery.

William Saliba secured the victory when Thomas Partey’s header from Bukayo Saka’s corner deflected off the French defender’s back, sending the ball past Andre Onana in the United goal.

Arsenal has emerged as a dominant force in set-pieces under Mikel Arteta. Timber and Saliba’s strikes added to Arsenal’s tally of 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, the highest in the Premier League.

Manchester United did pose occasional threats, with Diogo Dalot narrowly missing David Raya’s post in the first half and Raya making a crucial save to deny Matthijs de Ligt in the second. Substitute Mikel Merino headed wide from another Arsenal set-piece, while Kai Havertz saw his effort saved by Onana as the Gunners controlled the closing stages.

For Amorim, who warned pre-match that “a storm will come” for United, the loss ended his three-game unbeaten start in north London.