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.
2025/2026 Premier League
2-3
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.
3 - Bryan Mbeumo is the first @ManUtd player to score against Arsenal, Man City & Liverpool in a Premier League season since Marcus Rashford in 2022-23, and first to do so in his debut campaign at the club since Robin van Persie in 2012-13. Primetime. pic.twitter.com/5PdFrzWWe3
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 25, 2026
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.
2 - Arsenal have conceded 2+ goals from outside the box in a Premier League game for only the second time at the Emirates:
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 25, 2026
v Spurs, October 2008 (4-4)
v Man Utd, January 2026 (2-3)
Surprised. pic.twitter.com/Ogdtegzfbv
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