Arsenal narrowed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to seven points, with Jurrien Timber and William Saliba scoring from corners to hand Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim his first defeat.
Liverpool’s 3-3 stalemate with Newcastle opened the door for Arsenal to gain ground. After a frustrating first half against Amorim’s well-organized side, Arsenal’s set-piece mastery made the difference in the second period.
Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock shortly after the break, flicking in a sharp Declan Rice corner at the near post.
The goal marked Timber’s first for Arsenal and came in the absence of Gabriel Magalhaes, who missed the match due to injury.
Arsenal doubled their advantage when Bukayo Saka whipped in a cross from the opposite flank. Thomas Partey directed a header back across the box, and Saliba inadvertently bundled it over the line with his back. Saliba’s second of the season added to Arsenal’s league-leading seven set-piece goals.
The Gunners came close to increasing their tally as Manchester United struggled to deal with a series of dangerous deliveries. Mikel Merino nearly added a third but nodded just wide from another Saka cross.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya played a crucial role, pulling off a stunning one-handed save to deny Matthijs de Ligt. Later, he reacted quickly to stop Antony’s effort from a well-worked set-piece, preventing a tense finish for the hosts.
With Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori sidelined, Arsenal’s backline featured Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Amorim made six changes to his lineup, including a starting spot for Tyrell Malacia, while Marcus Rashford began on the bench.
Despite a disciplined opening half, United couldn’t hold off Arsenal’s relentless second-half pressure. The result allowed Arsenal to capitalize on Liverpool’s draw at St James’ Park, bolstering their title ambitions.
