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.
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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.
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