Arsenal 2-3 Man Utd: Devils floor title-chasing Gunners with Cunha's late goal

Matheus Cunha scored a sensational 87th-minute winner to clinch a 3-2 victory for Michael Carrick's Manchester United and leave leaders Arsenal stunned at the Emirates Stadium.

Match Report

Wins for title rivals Manchester City and Aston Villa put the pressure on Mikel Arteta's team, and they appeared nervous throughout Sunday's game. Ultimately, they were punished by some masterful finishing from United.

Arsenal did strike first in the 29th minute, albeit in fortuitous fashion as Lisandro Martinez sliced his attempted clearance from Martin Odegaard's shot into his own net.

However, mistakes crept into Arsenal's game from there and in the 37th minute, Martin Zubimendi's ill-advised pass was intercepted by Bryan Mbeumo, who rounded David Raya to score his 50th Premier League goal.

Patrick Dorgu then put United ahead five minutes into the second half, linking up brilliantly with Fernandes before the ball sat up nicely for him to send a sensational strike swerving off the underside of the crossbar and in.

Arteta made a quadruple change as Arsenal attempted to dial up the pressure, and after Senne Lammens turned Bukayo Saka's drive wide, the resulting corner led to substitute Mikel Merino prodding home.

It was Cunha that failed to clear Merino's effort off the line, but he had the final say in the 87th minute, curling a wonderful finish into the bottom-right corner from distance.

While United remain perfect in Michael Carrick's second spell in charge and climb to fourth in the table, Arsenal's lead at the summit remains at four points.

Data Debrief: Title nerves leading to Arsenal errors?

Arsenal conceded three goals in a match for the first time since December 2023 (in a 4-3 victory over Luton Town), ending a run of 121 matches in all competitions without conceding more than twice.

The Gunners were expected to take control when they went 1-0 up, but Zubimendi's error allowed United a foothold, and scorching strikes from Dorgu and Cunha sealed their victory. 

Arsenal have now made an error leading to an opposition goal in two of their last four Premier League matches, more than they did in their first 19 games of the campaign.

United, meanwhile, became the first visiting team to score two or more goals from outside the box at Arsenal in the Premier League since Tottenham in October 2008 (Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley), with those matches representing the only instances of the Gunners conceding two such goals at the Emirates.

The Red Devils owed much to their accuracy from range as they fired off 10 shots to Arsenal's 15, with their 0.73 expected goals (xG) falling short of the Gunners' 1.2.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

8' Saka makes a corner for gunners

9' Trossard's shot over the bar!

14' Rice's shot stopped by Martinez

18' Lammens makes an excellent save

29' OWN GOAL! Odegaard's cross is turned home by Martinez! Arsenal 1-0 Man Utd

33' Man Utd try to respond quickly but Bruno Fernandes shot is well wide

37' GOAL! Mbeumo equalises after a huge mistake by Zubimendi! Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd

40' Rice's freekick saved by Lammens

41' Arsenal launches a quick counterattack, but the cross is too long

46' Mbeumo's shot over the bar

50' GOAL! Dorgu scores a stunning goal! Arsenal 1-2 Man Utd

64' Yellow Card! Rice booked

65' Saka's crossing saved by Lammens

70' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man Utd

71' Arsenal ask for a penalty for handball from Maguire but nothing given

75' Saka switches to left wing. Madueke on the right

80' Patrick Dorgu looks hurt here

81' Gyokeres' header over the bar

81' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man Utd

84' Merino slots it in after pinball in the opposition box! Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd

86' Match Event for Arsenal vs Man Utd

87' GOAL! Matheus Cunha scores out of the box! Arsenal 2-3 Man Utd

91' Yellow Card! Eberechi Eze booked

97' Highlight from Arsenal vs Man Utd

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: Trossard, David Raya, Ødegaard, Jesus, Rice, Gabriel, Martín Zubimendi, Saliba, Saka, Timber, Hincapie

Subs: Kepa, Merino, Viktor Gyökeres, Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly

Man Utd XI: Casemiro, Maguire, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Bryan Mbeumo, Senne Lammens, Amad Diallo Traore, Mainoo, Patrick Dorgu

Subs: Mount, Mazraoui, Altay Bayındır, Ugarte, Matheus Cunha, Malacia, Benjamin Sesko, Yoro, Ayden Heaven