Arsenal see off shambolic Man United
LONDON: Arsenal took control of the battle to finish in the Premier League top four with a 3-1 win over Manchester United to all but end the Red Devils’ hopes of Champions League football next season.
Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka struck as Mikel Arteta’s team moved three points clear of Tottenham. Sixth-placed United are six points adrift of the top four and could miss out on European football completely next season.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 22nd goal of the season on his return to the United side after missing Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool due to the death of his newborn son.
However, Ronaldo will regret letting Bruno Fernandes take a second-half penalty with the game finely poised at 2-1 to the Gunners. Interim United boss Ralf Rangnick described his side’s display at Anfield as “humiliating” and “embarrassing”. United reacted to that defeat by formalising the appointment of Ajax boss Erik ten Hag as the man to take charge at Old Trafford from next season.
However, he will not have been impressed by another shambolic start from the side he will inherit. Harry Maguire was dropped to the bench after a traumatic week. The England international’s house was searched by police after receiving a bomb threat. Maguire has been the target for much of the criticism directed at United this season, but the defence wasn’t any better in his absence.
It took just two minutes for the visitors’ defence to be breached as David de Gea’s fine save from Saka’s initial effort counted for nothing as Tavares swept home the rebound.
De Gea stood up well to parry a piledriver from Eddie Nketiah from close range. Seconds later, Nketiah found the net from another one-on-one. A VAR review found the England U-21 international offside, but Saka was fouled by Alex Telles as he played the ball into Nketiah’s path. Saka took responsibility to send De Gea the wrong way from the penalty spot to double Arsenal’s lead. Ronaldo hit back
within two minutes as he swept home Nemanja Matic’s cross for his 100th Premier League goal.
Arsenal’s nerves began to show and United should have been at least level by the time Xhaka fired home the final blow. Tavares needlessly handled a corner into the Arsenal box on the hour.
Ronaldo stood aside to let Fernandes take the penalty, but
his compatriot rolled the ball onto the post.
The relief around the Emirates was palpable when Xhaka restored the two-goal cushion with a powerful shot that flew past De Gea from 25 yards.
Four-goal Jesus the star as Man City march on
MANCHESTER: Four goals from Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus
earned champions Manchester City a 5-1 win over Watford on Saturday, a victory that moved Pep Guardiola’s side four points clear at the top of the Premier League standings.
With Liverpool not in action until Sunday against Everton, City were overwhelming favourites to put Watford to the sword at the Etihad Stadium and they did so without ado.