Cunha credits Carrick for Man Utd's togetherness

Matheus Cunha praised Michael Carrick for instilling a new togetherness into Manchester United after they rallied to a 3-2 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Cunha was the match-winner, denting Arsenal’s title hopes, snatching all three points just under three minutes after Mikel Merino had equalised for the hosts at the Emirates.

United had already had to come from behind after going behind to Lisandro Martinez’s own goal, with Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu turning the game on its head.

It was the first time United had come from behind to beat Arsenal away from home in the Premier League since February 2005, when they triumphed 4-2.

Through Dorgu and Cunha, United were the first visiting team to score at least two goals from outside the box away to Arsenal in the top-flight since Tottenham in October 2008.

But Cunha heaped praise on their caretaker boss, who has led United to back-to-back league wins, having also beaten Manchester City last weekend.

"He knows the feeling, he played here so many years," Cunha told BBC Match of the Day about Carrick.

"He knows the feeling for Manchester; he knows the feeling for United. He knows how the fans want to feel.

He tried to show us every single moment, he tried to talk us to understand in moments and say, 'everyone is against us', so I think we feel more together.

"I think we showed character and power in the group. We know what to expect coming here. I think it's the best team in the world today, honestly.

"They play with Mikel [Arteta] so long, they know every single tactics, every single thing that he feels, so we know how hard it will to be to come here, but we are United and everything we do is to win the games."

United won away to the side top of the Premier League for the first time since March 2021 (2-0 v Manchester City under Ole Gunner Solskjaer).

And Harry Maguire echoed Cunha’s acclaim of Carrick, with United moving into the top four ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool.

"It was absolutely massive. We know that the first game, the derby at Old Trafford, you're always up for them, and you know that one-off results can happen, so we had to back it up," he told Sky Sports.

"We spoke about it before the game, coming to the league leaders, who have been excellent this year, I must say.

"They ask a lot of questions of you. To come here and have the setback late on to get the winner, it was a magnificent performance.

"Michael's [Carrick] come in, he's been brilliant with us, he's brought a fresh energy in, the group's really galvanised. Two tough games, everybody's probably thinks we come away from them with not many points, but to win both is magnificent."