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
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:
Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal
39 mins: Harry Maguire has another effort from outside the box and sends it into the hands of Ramsdale. The Manchester United captain seems up for this one tonight.
Arsenal get the ball down the other end of the pitch and win a throw in when Telles sends the ball out of play. The throw comes to Martin Odegaard who controls it brilliantly and spins towards the box before slipping Martinelli the ball. He looks to shoot but scuffs his effort and the ball goes wide of the near post.
Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal
36 mins: Penalty shout from United. They work the ball inside from the left and Fred knocks a dainty pass into the box for Telles. He tries to roll the ball onto his left foot to strike a shot at goal but Ben White lunges in and wins the ball with a perfectly timed challenge. Telles goes down and wants a penalty but the referee waves for play to go on.
Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal
33 mins: Maguire sends a nice diagonal ball across to Rashford on the right side. He brings it under control and lays a pass off to Ronaldo. Ronaldo gives it to Fernandes who sends another through ball into the box expecting a run from Ronaldo that doesn’t come. Both players look at each other in resigned confusion as the ball trickles out for a goal kick.
Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal
30 mins: Harry Maguire pushes up the pitch and receives a pass in the inside left channel. He boots a long-ranged effort at goal and strikes his shot well but the ball continues to rise and just heads over the crossbar.
Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal
27 mins: Fernandes slides a through ball into the right side of the box as Rashford attempts an overlapping run but can’t get around Nuno Tavares who beats him to the ball and sends it out for a corner.
Telles swings the set piece into the box towards Maguire but Ramsdale gets a hand to it and tips it over the crossbar.
Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal
24 mins: Rashford and Sancho have switched sides for Man Utd with Rashford now playing on the right. He has a cross headed out of the box but the home side regain the ball. This has been a good period for them, Arsenal are being pushed deeper and deeper trying to keep them out.
Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal
21 mins: What a strange incident to lead to the opening goal. Manchester United are trailing once again at Old Trafford but they’ve stepped up a gear since going behind. Rashford wins a throw on the left wing and it’s sent into the middle. A square apss comes to Ronaldo who plays Dalot into the right side of the box. He can shoot but instead pulls it back into the centre of the box but Gabriel is there and boots it clear.
Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal
19 mins: After that bizarre period of play the match resumes with Cristiano Ronaldo weaving down the left wing. He shimmies away from Takehiro Tomiyasu and cuts inside before letting fly on a low shot from the front edge of the box. Ramsdale dives across to cover the near post and smothers the ball.
GOAL! Man Utd 0 - 1 Arsenal (Smith Rowe, 13’)⚽️
16 mins: It’s a goal! Martin Atkinson has no choice but to give the goal as play continued after De Gea’s knock. The Manchester United goalkeeper is back on his feet and will play on but Arsenal are in front.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal
13 mins: Is this a goal?! Quite possibly. Arsenal win a corner that gets whipped into the box. Fred stands on David De Gea’s ankle and the United goalkeeper collapses to the floor. Maguire heads the ball out to Elneny who lays it off to Smith Rowe. He hits one from outside the box and scores whilst De Gea is still laying on the floor.
No goal has been given as of yet, we’ll see what the referee decides...
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