Arsenal reignite top-four bid, end Manchester United’s 25-match unbeaten run with 2-0 win
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ByEurosport
Updated 07/05/2017 at 17:29 GMT
The Emirates Stadium, Premier League - Arsenal 2 (Xhaka 54' Welbeck 57') Manchester United 0
Danny Welbeck of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on May 7
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0 at The Emirates to kick-start their bid for a top-four place in the Premier League and end their rivals’ 25-match unbeaten run.
Jose Mourinho made eight changes to the side that beat Celta Vigo in the Europa League, dropping Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford to the bench. Axel Tuanzebe made his first Premier League start at right back.
Wayne Rooney missed a superb chance when he intercepted a one-on-one, and David de Gea was forced into several stops to deny Arsenal from a sustained period of possion.
In the second half, United fell behind when Xhaka's deflected shot looped over De Gea, and Welbeck thundered in a header off the crossbar.
Arsenal remain sixth, and United fifth, but the result has made little difference to their already slim hopes of a top-four finish.
TALKING POINT
Has Jose Mourinho imperilled United chances of Champions League qualification? United approached the game looking for a draw, and were opened up the second they conceded. But United have just two games to win in the Europa League, and as Mourinho pointed out before the game, would need four to win in the Premier League to qualify. It will hurt United and Mourinho to lose to Arsenal, but it is a pain that is probably sensible to suffer.
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Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger shakes hands with Manchester United's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (2nd L)
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Danny Welbeck (Arsenal): It isn't his first goal against Manchester United, and after scoring again his celebration showed that he has absolutely no remorse about leaving. The game was still finely balanced at 1-0, and his excellent header secured victory for his (slightly) new club.
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Cech 6, Holding 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Xhaka 6, Ramsey 7, Gibbs 6, Ozil 6, Sanchez 6, Welbeck 7. Subs: Bellerin 6, Coquelin 6, Giroud 6.
Manchester United: De Gea 6, Tuanzebe 7, Smalling 5, Jones 6, Darmian 6, Carrick, Herrera 6, Mata 6, Rooney 4, Mkhitaryan 6, Martial 6. Subs: Lingard 6, McTominay 6, Rashford 6.
KEY EVENTS
9' - RAMSEY SHOT - Rooney's corner is hit much harder this time, but it's still just as bad. Arsenal break again. Ramsey is slid in down the inside right, and Ramsey drills a shot to the right of De Gea, and he palms it behind.
31' - DE GEA SAVE - Oxlade-Chamberlain waits for Rooney to slide in front of him, and turns past him easily. He unleashes a shot from the edge of the box which has De Gea diving up and right to beat it away.
32' - ROONEY CHANCE - Holding is under pressure from Martial. He backpasses for Cech, allowing Rooney to collect. He's six yards out, and blasts it at Cech.
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Arsenal's Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka celebrates with (L-R) Arsenal's Spanish defender Nacho Monreal, Arsenal's English striker Danny Welbeck and Arsenal's English defender Kieran Gibbs after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League footba
Image credit: Getty Images
54' - GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United. Xhaka scores - The ball comes to Xhaka about 35 yards out, he has room to shoot, and it loops off Herrera's back that flies over De Gea's leap.
57' - GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United. Welbeck scores - A cross from the right from Oxlade-Chamberlain is powered off the underside of the crossbar by Welbeck's excellent header.
65' - CECH SAVE - Rooney lines up a free kick from 25 yards out. He catches it well, but Cech is equal to the challenge and palms it behind for a corner.
KEY STATS
This is Arsene Wenger's first ever league win over Jose Mourinho.
MATCH IN A TWEET
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