Arsenal vs Manchester United, the leaders keeping up the pace

Arsenal are playing fantastically this season. Like a champion. After 19 rounds, they have only one defeat, with 16 triumphs and only two draws. Indeed, the numbers that say they could get to the first title in England since 2004.

Matchweek 21 ✅ pic.twitter.com/HCCqotMoUw

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 23, 2023

The impression is that this kind of football has not been played since the era of Arsene Wenger and the days when he was rampaging football in England. It’s a long season, and Arsenal still have a long way to go, but after the triumph over Manchester United, who arrived at the Emirates after a series of excellent results, it seems that the Gunners are ready for the crown.

If there was any doubt as to whether this Arsenal team could withstand an extremely grueling psycho-physical race and whether they had “that something” that makes champions, there shouldn’t be any now. Even Gary Neville has to admit that the Gunners are much more mature for this endeavor than his Red Devils, as they showed in the big derby.

“The actual football from Arsenal was world class” 🌍💫@Carra23 and @GNev2 discuss where Arsenal outplayed Manchester United… pic.twitter.com/aeEqk3J41G

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 23, 2023

Arsenal not only got three points by which they practically eliminated the team from Old Trafford from the race, since they escaped to 11 points more, with a match in hand, but the way they got there is more impressive than the victory. First, he found the strength to rise from the deficit against a team that dropped the lead only once in the last six matches, then turned it around, and then came to victory at the very end of the match.

Erik ten Hag’s team took the lead in the 17^th minute, after a great action by Marcus Rashford and an extremely accurate shot outside the penalty area. With this, the English representative continued his great streak, as it was his ninth goal in as many games since returning from the break.

However, just seven minutes later, Arsenal equalized. A sharp cross from Xhaka, towards Nketiah who headed the ball behind David de Gea. By the end of the half, there were chances on both sides, but the score was 1:1 at the break.

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In the 53^rd minute, Arsenal made a breakthrough. The brilliant Saka fired the ball from the right side diagonally from about 20 meters and hit the net with a millimeter-precise shot. However, it didn’t take long for United’s response. The man who Saka’s ball flew past, Lisandro Martinez, did a great job in the 59^th minute and headed the ball into the goal for a new tie – 2:2.

From then on, United retreated and lurked on the counter, while Arsenal attacked like there was no tomorrow. If anything else, because of such determination, Arsenal deserved to win and to continue fighting for the title. Arsenal and Nketiah were lucky in the 90^th minute. Odegaard kicked the ball at the goal, and the young striker, who is replacing the injured Jesus, hooked it with his heel, confused De Gea, and scored his second goal, a goal worthy of a great victory.