In a nail-biting encounter at Old Trafford, Arsenal scraped past Manchester United with a slender 1-0 victory, reigniting their hopes of clinching the Premier League title.
The Gunners broke their Old Trafford hoodoo as Leandro Trossard’s solitary goal in the 20th minute secured a crucial win, pushing them back to the top of the table by a single point.
With Manchester City still holding the key to the title race with two matches in hand, Arsenal’s triumph heaps pressure on Pep Guardiola’s squad ahead of their showdown with Tottenham.
The defeat dealt another blow to United’s aspirations for European competition next season, leaving them languishing in eighth place, trailing Newcastle and Chelsea by three points.
While Arsenal have been in scintillating form in 2024, winning 15 out of their 17 league games since the turn of the year, their victory at Old Trafford was anything but easy.
Under unusually stifling heat in England’s northwest, Mikel Arteta’s men were far from their flowing best, yet managed to weather the storm against an injury-hit United side.
Despite United showing more spirit than their dismal defeat to Crystal Palace, they failed to convert their chances, with Arsenal’s defense standing firm.
United’s woes were compounded by a mistake from Casemiro, whose lackluster performance led to Trossard’s decisive goal, leaving manager Erik ten Hag under increasing scrutiny.
The Dutchman’s decision to persist with Casemiro as a makeshift center-back backfired, highlighting United’s defensive frailties.
Although United’s new co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, witnessed the game firsthand, the club’s women secured their first major trophy in the FA Cup final, diverting attention from the men’s struggles.
As Arsenal held on for a crucial win, United’s Alejandro Garnacho missed a golden opportunity to equalize, summing up a frustrating afternoon for the home side.
Despite late pressure from United, Arsenal’s defense held firm, denying any chance of a late comeback and ensuring a tense finish to the Premier League title race.
As Arsenal now turn their attention to their final match of the season, the stakes couldn’t be higher, with City and West Ham looming large in their pursuit of glory.