Eddie Nketiah’s last-minute strike on Sunday earned Arsenal a thrilling 3-2 win over Manchester United to move five points clear at the top of the English Premier League after Erling Haaland’s hat-trick fired Manchester City to a 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Gunners remain on course for a first title in 19 years with a game in hand over City also to come.
United went in front at the Emirates after Marcus Rashford’s thunderous strike opened the scoring with his ninth goal since the World Cup break.
Photo: Reuters
Arsenal leveled within seven minutes as Nketiah’s powerful header rounded off a brilliant team move.
Bukayo Saka’s long-range effort that arrowed into the bottom corner put the hosts in front early in the second half.
This time United bounced straight back when Lisandro Martinez, who had been a target for Arsenal before arriving at Old Trafford in July last year, headed in a loose ball from a corner.
Erik ten Hag’s men were penned inside their own penalty area for much of the final quarter as the post denied Saka a second and David de Gea saved from Nketiah.
Arsenal’s pressure finally got its reward when Nketiah flicked home Martin Odegaard’s shot and the goal survived a video assistant referee check for offside.
“Emotional, a lot of passion, a lot of quality. It doesn’t get much better than that,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “To come here against this team and play the way we played. The second half especially, the performance was incredible.”
A first defeat in 11 games realistically ends any hope of United’s first title in a decade as they slipped 11 points behind Arsenal in fourth, having played a game more.
“It’s hard to accept when you lose in the last stage of the game,” Ten Hag said. “We made mistakes with all three goals. Normally we are better in such situations. It can’t happen.”
Haaland’s fourth hat-trick in 19 Premier League appearances had briefly cut Arsenal’s lead at the top to two points as Pep Guardiola got the reaction he wanted from the defending champions.
Guardiola questioned his players’ hunger to retain the title after Thursday last week’s 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Haaland is the one major difference to Guardiola’s previous title-winning sides in England and the Norwegian silenced any doubts over whether City are a stronger force without a recognized striker.
The 22-year-old’s scoring rate has slowed marginally since the World Cup break, but his header from Kevin de Bruyne’s cross moved him level with the 23 league goals that saw Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min share the Golden Boot with last season.
Haaland then took his tally to 30 goals in all competitions from the penalty spot early in the second half after Ilkay Gundogan had been upended by Ruben Neves.
Wolves gifted Haaland his hat-trick four minutes later as goalkeeper Jose Sa presented the ball to Riyad Mahrez, who unselfishly squared for his teammate to roll into an unguarded net.
“The numbers are incredible,” Guardiola said. “We can’t play the false nine with him. You have to adapt some movements with him and we are doing quite well.”
Just a second league defeat since Julen Lopetegui took charge left Wolves above the relegation zone only on goal-difference.
Leeds United edged one point clear of the bottom three, but remain without a league win since November last year after a 0-0 draw at home to Brentford.
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