Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester United: Xhaka stunner seals 3-1 win

Arsenal took another step towards the top four as goals from Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka secured a 3-1 Premier League win over Manchester United on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta made some intriguing changes to his side in the recent 4-2 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with Rob Holding and Mohamed Elneny coming into the side, although only one kept his spot against the Red Devils.

Holding dropped out in place of Cedric Soares with Benjamin White moving into central defence, while Elneny kept remained in midfield alongside Granit Xhaka.

That was the only change to the team, which meant a front three of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe continued to fly the Hale End flag.

Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester United as Granit Xhaka scores stunning goal as Gunners claim 3-1 Premier League win in top four hunt

A flying start from Arsenal saw them take the lead inside three minutes. David de Gea’s flying save from Saka’s shot was parried into the path of Nuno Tavares, who couldn’t miss from a few yards. Saka then converted from the spot following a VAR review, but Arsenal’s lead barely lasted a minute.

Ramsdale and Gabriel were in no-man’s land from Sancho’s cross and Cristiano Ronaldo converted from close range to reduce the lead back to a solitary goal in a chaotic and emotionally draining first half.

The visitors had a penalty ten minutes into the second half when Nuno was correctly penalised for a ludicrous handball, only for Bruno Fernandes to roll his spot-kick onto the outside of the post and wide.

Arsenal were all over the place defensively, effectively asking to concede, until Granit Xhaka stepped up with a thumping long range drive to hand the Gunners vital breathing space. That goal was vitally important for the Gunners, who then coasted through to secure a massive three points when it looked so unlikely.

What. A. Huge. Win

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 5/10 – The goalkeeper had a shocker. Some terrifying moments out from the back where he either played it into United feet or put his teammate’s under severe pressure were met with some wayward decision making for Ronaldo’s goal. Not a good day, even though he made some vital saves in the match.

Cedric (RB) – 3/10 – The quality of crosses on show from Cedric was horrendous. They were merely elaborate ways of handing the opposition possession. Struggled desperately against Sancho all afternoon. He could not cope.

Benjamin White (CB) – 6/10 – He has to work on his clearances. Whether they be headers or hoofs away, there is a slackness to them that needs refining. On the ball he did OK in the shorter passes, but going long he lacked the accuracy.

Gabriel (CB) – 5/10 – Made a vital block in the first half, as well as some in the second half, to spare Ramsdale’s blushes but then was equally as guilty as his goalkeeper for falling asleep to allow Ronaldo to ghost beyond him for the third goal of the game.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – 3/10 – Showed willingness to charge up and down the left flank and that enthusiasm got him his goal, although the rest of his shooting was horrific. Defensively, however, he was caught napping, gave the ball away constantly, and there was no logical explanation for what he was doing for the penalty.

He was all over the place. He was lucky to be kept on. Pure chaos.

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Midfielders

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – 8/10 – Always showed calmness picking up the ball even when surrounded by United bodies, and while his choice of pass did often frustrate, there was more effort to feed the ball forward into Odegaard between the lines. His experience was vital in this match.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 8/10 – Maintained some level of control but could do nothing in the second half when he had to cover relentlessly for Nuno’s marauding chaos at left-back. One of few reliable players on the team.

And when Arsenal were truly on the ropes and looking destined to concede the equaliser, he stepped up with a stunning goal – his first of the season. In the last two matches Arsenal have needed Xhaka, and he’s stood up.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 8/10 – Arsenal are very lucky to have this special player. He was picking up positions in between the lines all game and constantly posed a threat to United’s backline.

His impression on the match waned when the Gunners lost all concept of control, but his elegant touches and clever choice of pass helped the team tremendously. With 90+ minutes on the clock he was still pressing like a mad man.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 8/10 – Was excellent throughout and had Telles worried sick whenever he picked up the ball. Defensively put in an excellent shift to cover when others got forward and his technical security on the flanks kept moves alive.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – 7/10 – A battling display from Nketiah. He lacked composure at the vital moment when he leathered an effort straight at De Gea when he could have picked either corner, yet his overall energy both to come short and run beyond helped keep movement up across the forward line. His work rate mustn’t go unnoticed.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – 6/10 – Was barely a feature in the first half with Arsenal building up a lot of their play down the right hand side, and bar a few neat touches around people he didn’t put his stamp on this game as much as he needed to. Understandably came off just after the hour mark.

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Substitutes

Gabriel Martinelli – 6/10 – Given a similar remit to the one he had at Stamford Bridge, Martinelli ran around, made himself a nuisance, and nipped into challenges to keep energy levels up.

Rob Holding – 7/10 – The game had calmed down by the time he came on but he did his job in the heart of defence as Arsenal saw the game out.

Takehiro Tomiyasu – N/A – WELCOME BACK!