Arsenal won for the second time in 13 Premier League games after Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis scored against Manchester United.
Match Report
Mikel Arteta tasted victory for the first time since taking charge of Arsenal after Nicolas Pepe's third league goal of the season put his side on course for a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Emirates Stadium.
Ivory Coast international Pepe capitalised on a nervous start to the game by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, who lost for only the second time in 10 league games after failing to expose Arsenal's flaws in the way Chelsea had done in a 2-1 win on the same ground three days earlier.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos doubled Arsenal's lead just before half-time and the hosts' improvement was testament to Arteta's impact on a squad that has appeared disjointed for much of this season.
The revived performances of Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka in the Gunners' midfield will have particularly pleased the coach, who delivered Arsenal's second victory in 13 gruelling Premier League games that had seen them drop into the bottom half of the table, this result lifting them back up to 10th and offering cause for optimism at the start of 2020.
Premier League Standings
Match Events
4' Fred's free kick stopped by Leno
Fred curls the free-kick into the penalty area, but a diving Leno manages to punch it away and send Lacazette away on a counter-attack in the process.
Matic comes across to foul the Arsenal forward cynically but somehow escapes a booking.
8' GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Man Utd (Pepe)
Kolasinac brings the ball all the way into Manchester United’s half without trouble, before squaring a pass to the edge of the six-yard box.
Lindelof unknowingly gets a touch to it, which diverts it into the path of Pepe! A simple finish with the inside of his foot beats De Gea and makes it 1-0!
10' CLOSE! Aubameyang's shot over the bar
Pepe has come alive with that goal! He shows great skill on the right-hand side of the United box, eluding Luke Shaw and digging out a cross for Aubameyang, but he blazes over.
31' Lacazette's shot wide out
Lacazette drives into the penalty area following a Pepe pass and turns Maguire, working space in which to shoot. It’s a lovely turn from the striker, but his outside-the-foot shot doesn’t even require a save from De Gea.
32' CHANCE! Torreira's shot inches wide
Torreira spins through the Manchester United defence on the edge of the 18 and has an off-balance strike which goes narrowly wide of the goal!
37' CLOSE! Pepe hits the post
De Gea gets his side into a trouble as a poor kick gifts the ball to Lacazette on the edge of the penalty area. The striker doesn’t think twice as he sweeps a shot towards goal - sending the effort clattering off the post and out!
42' GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd (Sokratis)
Pepe’s corner is flicked on at the near post by Lacazette, forcing De Gea to quickly palm it away. Unfortunately for the goalkeeper, he turns it right into the path of Sokratis, who blasts his chance high into the roof of the net! 2-0!
54' Fred's long shot too straight
Shaw sets up Fred, who has a go from a long way out. He manages to send the drive on target, but Leno has enough time to take the sting out of the strike before palming it assuredly.
72' Greenwood's shot stopped by Leno
Lindelof chips a pass forward to Martial, whose aerial flick-on falls neatly on the edge of the penalty area for Greenwood.
The striker looks up and takes a quick right-footed shot, but Leno gets down to make an easy save.
fasbdeortz
0
Hi
Tukdelntuy
0
wiison
Mahmud19
2
Arsenal rules
Dowbckoty
1
so it's the new beginning for Arsenal FC
Wuucenop
3
The Giant Killer was killed yesterday
King_Martins_Lover
4
seems like Pepe bought a new boot. or it was given to him as a new year gift
cheadymayor
0
[image]
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sauranshu
1
This is official- Gunners are no Big Club anymore!
Lionelmeshaki
2
really
ninbceknu
0
To All Arsenal Haters ! Arsenal is a big Club an will stay a big Club every Club have there ups an down including Liverpool ,ManUtd Chelsea, Man City and to a lesser extent Tottemn caus a adding winning throphy to the conversation as well hence it's Arsenal time to go through changes which appen to every clubs Since Arteta took over the same players that play under Emry is the ones playing now and u can clearly see Arteta is having a posatative impact aready so Arsenal Haters u would Neva see us go down hill anymore caus give Arteta bout 4 transfer windows and e will have Arsenal has World beaters ,rember it took both Kloop an Gurdelo 6 transfer windows an 3 years to bring Liverpool an Man City to where they r today and that's a fact so Arsenal Fans be paitent Arteta is the real deal....Up! Gunners for Life
Hahahahaha! Arsenal fans be like after one ☝️ win!!!!! Hahahahaha!!! But truly you made sense though my team Liverpool has there down moments for about 7yrs and everybody was mocking us but now we are the envy of the whole world! Arsenal don’t worry I wish you all well that you bounce back! Respect
febakly
2
A good performance by Arsenal unfortunately they are not consistent. One week they play like champions and the next they can lose tamely to Rochdale.
Ijas22
3
Arsenal wishing Man U a special new year 2-0 2-0
Reignjoj
1342
KARUN-YNWLRed
3
Well only team in top 6 that hard defeat Man U well deserved congrats Arsenal hope this team get back on top 4 track :)
Gunners4ever❤
0
I'm not sure. @estera though I was a real United fanboy and was going to say mean things. She didn't talk to me for around 2 days until I convinced her[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
wow. she won't like it if a bayern fan like you change logo😁
KithuruMafaaz
3
Awesome match by Arsenal
Wepdlmnr
0
sell d entire man united team
Bupckyz
1
The only player who played well in the United team was Matic
Jamaicabowyz
2
Ole: Calm down guys its New years, let give away 3 points [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
HERMANNO19
3
First clean sheet of Arsenal
Beyalnorz
0
arsenal fans are online now. it has been years since I saw arsenal fan online.
It took u 30yrs to get online. 1990 was ur last EPL title u won🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
nahadmtuz
2
Please fire Ole immediately
dehadeptz
0
2019 Arsenal -> Toy Gun ❌ 2020 Arsenal -> Machine Gun ✔️
Facebook
sawabemt
2
To All Arsenal Haters ! Arsenal is a big Club an will stay a big Club every Club have there ups an down including Liverpool ,ManUtd Chelsea, Man City and to a lesser extent Tottemn caus a adding winning throphy to the conversation as well hence it's Arsenal time to go through changes which appen to every clubs Since Arteta took over the same players that play under Emry is the ones playing now and u can clearly see Arteta is having a posatative impact aready so Arsenal Haters u would Neva see us go down hill anymore caus give Arteta bout 4 transfer windows and e will have Arsenal has World beaters ,rember it took both Kloop an Gurdelo 6 transfer windows an 3 years to bring Liverpool an Man City to where they r today and that's a fact so Arsenal Fans be paitent Arteta is the real deal....Up! Gunners for Life
kkstyles04
0
did I do that too I remember telling you about it for sure
I'm not sure. @estera though I was a real United fanboy and was going to say mean things. She didn't talk to me for around 2 days until I convinced her[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Ken17
0
Even arsenal got a new coach and it’s working out Barcelona please
Their style of play it’s what’s irritating
Gunners4ever❤
0
Yeah.Arsenal fanboys bantered me all week
did I do that too I remember telling you about it for sure
Beyalnorz
0
it was still a long way to go..u won tonight due to bad performance by man u
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
crystal18
1
I'm so sorry for everything I did @afy I know I've done maybe things that are wrong but plz afy I'm sorry I don't mean to hurt anyone I just wanna be friends with everyone that's it and plz before taking any actions against me plz just let's talk I will tell u everything u wanna know by that I mean that I will tell why I did what I did I am sorry again for everything but I really enjoy and love this app plz afy just ask me about my actions I'll answer with truth plz reply me soon 🙏🙏🙏🙏
I swear in name of god @afy I'm so sorry for everything I did I will change and be a better user I promise I'll start from tmrw and a user said she's willing to help me I'm gonna take her advices . I'm a good person and I'm sorry if I hurt anyone I promise I won't hurt anyone again I just wanna be friends with all fellow users nothing else 🙏🙏
Zephaniahmati
2
happy 2020 arsenal. you began the year by separating 20 and this 20 to make your year. 2-0
Sharkie
2
The Red Devils have been gunned down by the gunners🥳🥳
AverageS4v4g3
0
Somehow this feels like City beating Manu
Naaakpsu
0
Again, win 2, and the mediocre the next. That is ths current state of current mN u team. If no Pogba., man u need to add. Striker anx scoring midfielders is definite. Institute same back 4 all the league game. Maybe BW as the first team. Should find replacement for Lindelof, to partner Mcguire. Sell Young, Lindergard, Luke Shaw as tgsy havd to move on.
Hero15
1
Wow wow wow Liverpool have the most Talk now what did happen to u guys over 30 year now u come back well😆
i was not born that time and not most of our playing so
Rusikmny
2
Liverpool will be the next victim of this new Arsenal team!😃
You lost to our B team remember in carabao cup
Dwise
2
OFFICIAL:- The 2020 version of the Gunners Gun jxt fired the Red devil's back to Old Trafford
kuscnpstz
1
Ole the time has come for you to resign. All you have to offer are excuses which are repeated so often they've become well worn. Meanwhile the fans remain humiliated and deeply disappointed. Where is the club's dignity? Ole out! Woodward out!
VictorJaja
0
official Arsenal is now a small team
Kekbdekuy
2
hut zGall the the year to to you yocnzslz
toseklruz
2
it was still a long way to go..u won tonight due to bad performance by man u
we have started the process, remember it was the referee that robbed us against Chelsea.
ohfoyf
0
Even arsenal got a new coach and it’s working out Barcelona please
Barca are top of there league there doing well they got 1st in ucl group how can you be dissapointed
apriltungnung
0
I literally cried to finally win n my boys doing their best to win.. a smile and happy gunner after all these times #coyg
ohfoyf
0
Thanks to Ole for leaving Pogba behind 😂😂. COYG❤ AllezGunners 💪
if pogba played it would have been 3 or 4-0 arsenal
crystal18
1
Thanks for your report indeed. We are now checking this problem and trying our best to fix it. We apologize and wish you to still enjoy football here :-)
I'm so sorry for everything I did @afy I know I've done maybe things that are wrong but plz afy I'm sorry I don't mean to hurt anyone I just wanna be friends with everyone that's it and plz before taking any actions against me plz just let's talk I will tell u everything u wanna know by that I mean that I will tell why I did what I did I am sorry again for everything but I really enjoy and love this app plz afy just ask me about my actions I'll answer with truth plz reply me soon 🙏🙏🙏🙏
usoko
0
finally: arsenal has become a small club
bembciknpt
0
well done gunners
Fopaeikrst
0
That Arsenal would beat them in their first match of the new year 🔫😉😂
[image]
u still yet to see the outcome..there will be 17 more games to go..hopefully u can make it..
Fopaeikrst
2
2020 > >>>> Arteta bought New Guns 🔫🔫🔫 and New Bullets for Arsenal as their New Year’s Gifts 👊🔥🔥🔥
and remember...u must improve your ability on other teams...talking is easier than doing
NauticalDavid
1
Thanks to Ole for leaving Pogba behind 😂😂. COYG❤ AllezGunners 💪