Arsenal vs Man Utd LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Granit Xhaka goal
Follow live reaction after Arsenal beat Manchester United in a big match in the race for the Premier League’s top four
Follow live reaction after Arsenal dealt a blow to Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four Premier League finish as Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka struck in a 3-1 win that revived the home side’s chances of Champions League football next season.
Arsenal were rewarded for their blistering early pace as Tavares tapped home in the third minute after United goalkeeper David de Gea pushed away a curling effort by Saka, following some poor defending by the visitors at the Emirates. Saka doubled the Gunners’ lead from the penalty spot after a foul on the winger in the build-up to a disallowed goal by Eddie Nketiah. Nketiah’s strike was ruled offside by the Video Assistant Referee.
United’s sluggish display overshadowed fleeting moments in which they threatened and was another reminder of the challenge facing incoming manager Erik ten Hag, though the visitors got one back as Cristiano Ronaldo swept in Nemanja Matic’s cross. The Portuguese forward’s 100th Premier League goal came after a traumatic week personally for the player after the death of one of his newborn twin babies.
United improved after the restart but their woes deepened as skipper Bruno Fernandes hit the post with a poor effort from the penalty spot following Tavares’ handball, before a 70th-minute thunderbolt from Xhaka sealed the win for the Gunners.
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
This is a big half-time team talk for Antonio Conte and Spurs. They know they need to win to catch up to Arsenal in the race for the top four but Brentford have been the better team.
Spurs need to come out swinging in the second half and take the game to the Bees.
Half-time: Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
45+1 mins: Nothing to separate the teams as they head into the break. Tottenham haven’t played well but that’s due in part to how solid Brentford have been.
Their press has been good and they’ve had the best chance at goal. Ivan Toney rattling the crossbar with his headed effort.
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
42 mins: Still no shots on target from either side. Brentford have all but nullified Tottenham’s attacking qualities. This feels a lot like the Brighton game for Antonio Conte’s men.
If they aren’t careful the Bees will take the lead and then they’ll find it really difficult to score.
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
39 mins: Saman Ghoddos and Ivan Toney combine on the right side but Toney’s cross into the middle is poor and the ball sails out of play.
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
36 mins: Cristian Romero slips as Christian Eriksen collects the ball just inside Tottenham’s final third. Ivan Toney makes a run the vacant space in Spurs’ back line but Eriksen pass over the top is off target and the ball bounces out of play.
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
33 mins: Son utilises his fancy footwork to shimmy around Vitaly Janelt and take the ball to the edge of the penalty area. He feeds it out wide to Ryan Sessegnon before getting clipped and going down. Sessegnon flicks the ball over to the back post but can’t pick out Harry Kane and the ball skips behind for a goal kick.
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
30 mins:
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
27 mins: Tottenham haven’t got going at all yet. Pontus Jansson is sticking close to Harry Kane not allowing the forward any room on the ball when it’s played up to him.
Spurs maintain a bit of possession outside the Brentford penalty area but Rodrigo Bentancur fancies a go from range and fires it well wide.
Brentford 0 - 0 Tottenham
24 mins: Spurs lose the ball in the middle of the pitch despite some trickery from Son and the comes loose to Pontus Jansson. He boots it down the right wing where Ivan Toney is free to run into space. He brings the ball down and fires an early pass into the box for Bryan Mbuemo but Tottenham manage to turn it behind for another Brentford corner.
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