Manchester United visited the Emirates to square up against Arsenal in a bid to fully throw their weights behind a title charge but they had to do it without the suspended Casemiro.

Arsenal, still without Gabriel Jesus named Leandro Trossard on the bench and started the same team for the fourth league match in a row. United named Scott McTominay in the middle of the park and Lisandro Martinez replaced Malacia in the lineup.

Arsenal started the game brightly as always but United weathered the storm and Marcus Rashford continued his rampaging form with a sensational goal from 25 yards out. Thomas Partey lost possession and from a seemingly harmless angle, Rashford struck brilliantly.

It was a goal against the run of play and like they have done many times this season, Arsenal were only behind for six minutes. Eddy Nketiah got on the end of a tantalizing Granit Xhaka cross and it was 1-1 with Aaron Wan Bissaka culpable for losing his man.

Arsenal didn’t stop, the Gunners kept hammering United but Raphael Varane and Martinez in the heart of the United defense stood firm. Aaron Ramsdale saved a fierce effort from McTominay and that was the last time the visitors troubled Arsenal until midway into the second half.

Arsenal started the second half on the top and Bukayo Saka did what he has done in his last two games against the Red Devils. If Rashford’s was from a shocking distance, Saka’s angle was even more impossible but Lil Chilli released a sensational curler from 30 yards on the right side of the attacking third.

Like Arsenal did in the first half, United needed only six minutes to respond too. Lisandro Martinez got on the end of a poorly cleared Ramsdale effort off a corner kick and Gabriel on the line couldn’t keep the looping header out.

Arsenal went for the kill, attacks after attacks and Erik Ten Hag’s plan of coming out with a draw at least seemed to be working. Leandro Trossard came on for Gabriel Martinelli and Arsenal’s rings got oiled again but in different fashion.

Standout player Alex Zinchenko combined with the little Belgian and Martin Odegaard directed the ball into Nketia’s path; the young striker diverted the ball past David De Gea and that was it, Arsenal has beaten United with almost the last kick of the game.

The loss sent Untied back to fourth having surged to third and the win took Arsenal to 50points, the most they have gotten at this stage in their history. Arsenal now sits five clear of Manchester City at the top and also has a game in hand on the champions.