Manchester United vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction

Relive all the action from Old Trafford as Michael Carrick oversaw his final game as interim manager

Next manager of Man United must have "consistency" says Butt

Cristiano Ronaldo reached 800 career goals as his brace secured Manchester United a much-needed victory against Arsenal as interim manager Ralf Rangnick saw his new side triumph from the stands.

A lot has changed at Old Trafford since their last home game 26 days ago, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer losing his job after that loss to Manchester City was compounded by a shocking defeat at Watford.

United coach Michael Carrick has steadied the ship during an unbeaten three-match caretaker stint that ended with an entertaining 3-2 victory against Arsenal at a bouncing Old Trafford.

It was only their second win in nine Premier League games and a timely shot in the arm ahead of Rangnick’s first game in charge against Crystal Palace this Sunday.

The German has signed a deal until the end of the season and Thursday’s match will have given him food for thought, having seen the quality and ongoing concerns first hand from the directors’ box.

Finding a way to keep clean sheets will be key if this season is to be a success for United, although there was little that could be done to prevent Emile Smith Rowe’s bizarre opener.

David De Gea was rolling around in pain when the Arsenal youngster struck, with the VAR instructing referee Martin Atkinson to award the goal as it was the Spaniard’s team-mate Fred that hurt the goalkeeper.

Bruno Fernandes, making his 100th United appearance, levelled before half-time, with Ronaldo turning home Marcus Rashford’s cross to bring up 800 goals for club and country early in the second half.

But Arsenal took just two minutes to bring this helter-skelter clash back level as Martin Odegaard found the net with a low finish - good work undone 16 minutes later by his rash challenge on Fred inside the box.

Atkinson awarded the penalty after the VAR advised he watch the pitchside monitor, with Ronaldo keeping his cool in front of the Stretford End to lash home what proved to be the winner. Relive all the action below:

Manchester United vs Arsenal

• Ronaldo scores winner from penalty spot
• Odegaard fires back instantly
• Ronaldo puts United in front
• Smith Rowe scores controversial opener
• Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles, McTominay, Fred, Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford, Ronaldo
• Fernandes equalises on brink of half-time
• Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tavares, Elneny, Partey, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Aubameyang

[2 December 2021 21:22 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Man Utd 1 - 1 Arsenal

Kick off: Manchester United get the match back underway and send the ball up to Ronaldo who wins the header but knocks it down to the visitors.

Arsenal sweep down the pitch and win another corner.

Save! Smith Rowe swings the ball into the box and Gabriel leaps towards it. The ball comes off the defender’s back and flies towards goal but De Gea reacts sharply and palms it wide of the back post!

[2 December 2021 21:18 · Michael Jones]

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[2 December 2021 21:16 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Arsenal

Following Emile Smith Rowe’s opener Man Utd had conceded nine consecutive Premier League goals at Old Trafford without scoring themselves, their longest home league run of goals conceded without reply since November 1961.

[2 December 2021 21:12 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Arsenal

At 21 years, 127 days old Emile Smith Rowe is now the second-youngest goal scorer for Arsenal in the Premier League at Old Trafford, after Nicolas Anelka in February 1999 who was 19 years & 340 days.

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

[2 December 2021 21:09 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Arsenal

Bruno Fernandes is the first player to score on his 100th competitive appearance for Man Utd since Antonio Valencia vs Blackburn in April 2012.

(Getty Images)

[2 December 2021 21:06 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Man Utd 1 - 1 Arsenal

45+4 mins: All square at the break then. Emile Smith Rowe put the Gunners in front with a controversial goal before Bruno Fernandes equalised. The match is perfectly set up for a winning goal in the second half, but who will get it?

[2 December 2021 21:03 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Arsenal

45+2 mins: Smith Rowe sends a deep corner into the box for Arsenal but it drops over the head of Partey and bounces out for a goal kick. This game is delicately poised as we approach half-time.

[2 December 2021 21:02 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Arsenal

45 mins: Four minutes of added time to play at the end of the first half.

[2 December 2021 20:59 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man Utd 1 - 1 Arsenal (Fernandes, 44’)⚽️

44 mins: Manchester United are level! Game on. This is a lovely goal from the home side. Maguire knocks the ball out to Sancho on the left wing as Fred makes a run in between two Arsenal defenders to get into the box. He receives the ball and back heels it to the arriving Bruno Fernandes who ends his goal drought with a well guided finish past Ramsdale!

[2 December 2021 20:58 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal

42 mins: Danger! Fred brings down Partey just outside the United penalty area. The free kick is bang in front of goal around 25-yards out. There’s a cluster of Arsenal players around the ball wanting a shot at the free kick. Odegaard and Partey are the last two standing and it’s Partey who hits the shot. Odegaard jumps over the ball in a dummy before Partey’s strikes loops up off Aubameyang and drops safely in the hands of De Gea.