Matheus Cunha netted a dramatic 87th-minute winner on Sunday to hand Michael Carrick’s Manchester United a 3–2 victory, cutting Arsenal’s Premier League lead to four points.
The substitute curled a stunning 25-yard strike into the corner just three minutes after Mikel Merino had brought the hosts level from a Bukayo Saka corner.
Arsenal had earlier let their advantage slip when Martin Zubimendi’s poor pass allowed Bryan Mbeumo to break through and score past David Raya, following Lisandro Martinez’s own-goal deflection of Martin Odegaard’s cross-shot that had opened the scoring.
Arsenal struggled to regain their composure after Mbeumo’s leveller and Manchester United, 2-0 winners over Manchester City in Carrick’s first game in charge last weekend, went in front when Patrick Dorgu crashed a superb effort in off the bar.
Mikel Arteta tried to change the flow of the game by making a quadruple substitution before the hour mark, but Arsenal continued to flounder before finally restoring parity when Merino prodded over the line for yet another set-piece goal.
At that point, it seemed Arsenal might go on and find a winner, but Cunha silenced the Emirates Stadium when his stunning, long-range effort sparked more wild Manchester United celebrations. There were boos from some home fans at the final whistle.
The victory continues a dream start in the dugout for head coach Carrick, and leaves alarm bells ringing for Arsenal, whose lead at the top of the Premier League is reduced from seven to four points following Manchester City and Aston Villa’s wins.
Having been held to goalless draws against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in their previous two Premier League games, Arsenal are now without a win in three as Manchester United continue to push for a Champions League finish in fourth.