Nketiah strikes late as leader Arsenal edges Man United in thriller

LONDON -Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with Eddie Nketiah scoring twice in a 3-2 defeat of Manchester United, including a 90th-minute winner, in a rip-roaring match at the Emirates on Sunday.

It looked like it would end the honors even as United held off a late Gunners siege, but Nketiah tapped in from close range to send the home fans home.

A match that lived up to expectations saw Marcus Rashford give United the lead with a stunning early opener only for Nketiah to head Arsenal level in the first half.

Bukayo Saka’s lightning strike put Arsenal ahead in the 53rd minute but Lisandro Martinez’s header leveled just before the hour mark to set up a thrilling finale.

Taka hit the post and Nketiah was denied by David de Gea, but the hosts were impatient as they avenged their defeat to United earlier in the season – their only defeat.

Mikel Arteta’s side have 50 points from 19 games, their best in the first half of a Premier League campaign, with City 45 from 20 and United in fourth place with 39, below Newcastle United on goal difference.

“You can see how much we want to win and how much we want for ourselves and the fans,” said youth product Nketiah, who has scored seven goals in his last seven games as a stand-in for the injured Gabriel Jesus.

“We kept pushing and pushing and thankfully found the goal.”

Arsenal’s title credentials are no longer in question and victory against United was another big statement after previous champions City secured two points.

United have been in excellent form, winning five of their last six in the league, and took that confidence early on despite being without suspended midfielder Casemiro.

They needed just 17 minutes to take the lead and unsurprisingly it was the excellent Rashford who scored the goal.

When Arsenal lost the ball in midfield, the ball fell to Rashford’s feet and after deceiving Thomas Partey, he made a save before unleashing a low shot from outside the penalty area that screamed near the post.

It was a shock for Arsenal who didn’t concede early this season, but they responded well.

United didn’t need to concede a corner after trying to play it out from the back and Arsenal worked the ball to Granit Xhaka who provided a delightful cross for Nketiah to leap perfectly and hit a header into the back of the net.

Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale was forced to save from Scott McTominay as the pace continued on the half hour mark.

The hosts switched gears in the second half and Saka gave them the lead in the 53rd minute with a goal to rival Rashford. Cutting in from the right he fired a stunning left-footed shot that gave De Gea no chance.

Back came United and six minutes later they were level when Ramsdale couldn’t do the right thing with a high ball and the ball bounced out for Martinez who improvised a lobbed header that nestled in the back of the net.

Arsenal began to turn the screw and with 20 minutes left Saka almost restored Arsenal’s lead with a carbon copy of the goal, but this time the ball clipped outside the post and when De Gea saved from Nketiah it looked like the host should. settle for a point.

But Nketiah, already a fan favourite, was on hand to flick home from in front of goal in the 90th minute after a low cross was deflected into his path.

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