A seismic twist at the Emirates saw Manchester United snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory over Arsenal as Matheus Cunha curled home an 87th-minute winner on Sunday.
The result not only silenced the home crowd but also injected fresh life into United’s Premier League ambitions.
Match recap
Arsenal took an early lead when Lisandro Martínez turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Jurriën Timber in the 29th minute.
The Gunners’ nerves showed, and eight minutes later, a sloppy pass from Martín Zubimendi gifted Bryan Mbeumo a chance that he coolly finished to level the scores.
After the break, Patrick Dorgu produced a thunderbolt from 25 yards, a stunning strike that smashed in off the underside of the crossbar and put United ahead.
Arsenal thought they had rescued a point when Mikel Merino bundled home from a scramble, but Cunha’s late, exquisite curl denied them and sealed a famous away win.
Title race impact
The defeat leaves Arsenal just four points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa, and it hands United renewed belief.
Michael Carrick, in only his second game as interim boss, has now masterminded wins over both City and Arsenal in eight days, lifting United into fourth and sparking talk of a revived campaign.
With rivals juggling Champions League and cup commitments, United’s singular focus on the league gives them a rare advantage as the season enters its decisive phase.
Arsenal wobble
There was an uneasy atmosphere at the Emirates all afternoon. Arsenal’s usually composed machine showed cracks: misplaced passes, hesitant possession, and a surprisingly unsettled William Saliba.
Manager Mikel Arteta’s unusual quadruple substitution failed to restore fluency, and questions about Arsenal’s game management and mentality have resurfaced after recent cautious displays against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Carrick’s revival
Ruben Amorim’s brief, turbulent tenure is already a distant memory. Carrick has simplified United’s approach, restored players to familiar roles, and unlocked a swagger that had been missing. The team looks liberated, sharper on the counter, and more confident in big moments, a transformation that has turned skeptics into believers, at least for now.
Dorgu’s resurgence
Patrick Dorgu is the poster child for United’s turnaround. Once struggling to justify his £25 million move, the 21-year-old now boasts three goals in six league games after his spectacular strike at the Emirates.
Confidence, patience, and Carrick’s faith have reshaped his season. United will be nervously awaiting news on a late muscle problem that forced him off, but his recent form has already altered perceptions at Old Trafford.
Looking ahead
United’s fans left the Emirates singing of title dreams, even if a 12-point gap to the summit still looks daunting.
For Arsenal, the task is to steady the ship and rediscover the attacking spark that has carried them so far. For Carrick and his rejuvenated squad, momentum is everything and after this night in north London, momentum is very much on their side.
