Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

Arsenal vs Manchester United LIVE: Jurrien Timber and William Saliba give Gunners win at Emirates Stadium

Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd: Mikel Arteta’s side close the gap on Liverpool with a confident win over the Red Devils

Michael Jones,Jamie Braidwood
Thursday 05 December 2024 01:08 GMT
Comments
‘You can see his fingerprints’ – Mikel Arteta praises Ruben Amorim's early impact on Manchester United

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Arsenal reduced Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a crucial 2-0 win against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. After Fabian Schar’s late equaliser denied Liverpool victory at St James’ Park, Mikel Arteta’s men were offered the chance to inch closer to the summit.

And the Gunners did not disappoint with Jurrien Timber and William Saliba both scoring from corners in the second half to provide the hosts with a win that kept their title hopes alive.

That provided better stability to United’s back line and frustrated the Gunners who created very little from open play. Instead, their threat came from set pieces and corners in particular. The breakthrough came in the second half as Declan Rice found Timber at the near post where a glancing header beat Andre Onana to put the hosts ahead.

A second corner brought the second goal. Bukayo Saka curled this delivery to the back post where Thomas Partey nodded the ball into the back of Saliba to double Arsenal’s lead. Amorim attempted to changed the flow of the game and swiftly introduced substitutes but the damage was done.

Relive the action from the Emirates Stadium with our live blog below:

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

33 mins: Ruben Amorim always appears as though watching Man Utd play is physically hurting him. He’s got a painful look on his face as Arsenal start to take more control of the game.

United’s opportunities have been few and far between. A tactical battle on the pitch which doesn’t have a winner... yet.

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:48

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

30 mins: Martin Odegaard is taken down by a lunging Mason Mount and the Arsenal fans are not happy. Mount escapes without major punishment but possession switches back to the Gunners who look to come down the left wing.

Dalot blocks off Martinelli’s run and United win the ball back. That’s kind of been the story of this opening half hour. The main threat has come from Arsenal’s set pieces.

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:44

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

27 mins: Thomas Partey dinks the ball over the top and finds Bukayo Saka. Tyrell Malacia sticks with him and forces the ball out for another corner thanks to some help from Noussair Mazraoui.

Saka is on set piece duty again and again sends it close to Onana. The goalkeeper punches it to Zinchenko whose blocked shot lands for Martinelli.

He turns the ball towards goal but sends it high and wide!

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:41

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

24 mins: Arsenal win another corner after Mazraoui gives the ball away. This one is taken by Saka who whips in an inswinger. Andre Onana gets there first and punches the ball away only for Saka to recover it.

He goes for goal this time but sends the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper.

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:38

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

21 mins: The game is still settling into its rhythm. The teams are sharing possession evenly and there hasn’t been many chances in the final thirds yet.

United are seemingly getting a bit of joy with long passes over the top of Arsenal’s high line but David Raya is aware enough to get out of his box quickly and beat the front men to the ball.

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:36

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

18 mins: Ruben Amorim is issuing instructions from the sidelines but he’ll be pleased with what he’s seen so far. Tyrell Malacia and Alejandor Garnacho make fine runs into the box from the left side and get picked out by Bruno Fernandes both times.

But both times, William Saliba is on hand to shut down the attack and force United backwards.

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:32

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

13 mins: United are being brave on the ball and are trying to bait Arsenal into pressing them from goal-kicks. The visitors almost played through Arsenal twice by taking goal-kicks short and using well designed moves, before Onana plays it long on the third.

That was actually the occasion where United lost the ball in a dangerous position.

(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood4 December 2024 20:30

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

15 mins: Zinchenko’s early cross fizzes across the penalty area with pace but Saka halts his run. He lifts his head in anguish as he releases he could have gotten to the cross but the ball skips through for a goal kick.

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:29

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

12 mins: Bukayo Saka receives the ball and sweeps down the right side. He cuts inside in typical fahsion then lifts a cross over to the far post where Gabriel Martinelli and Diogo Dalot duel for the aerial ball.

Dalot wins.

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:26

Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

10 mins: Man Utd get themselves up the pitch after a good run from Tyrell Malacia who combines with Rasmus Hojlund. Arsenal’s strong defence forces the visitors to send the ball back to Diogo Dalot who sends a log pass forward.

William Saliba reads it early and deals with the danger without too much fuss.

Mike Jones4 December 2024 20:25

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in