Arsenal get huge slice of fortune in 3-1 Manchester United win

Arsenal grabbed themselves an essential victory over Manchester United on Saturday to keep them firmly in the hunt for a Premier League top four spot – but they’ll have better days at the office.

Getting their noses in front with just three minutes on the clock, Arsenal couldn’t have asked for a more perfect start. David de Gea could only parry Bukayo Saka’s shot into the path of Nuno Tavares, who weighed in with by far his best contribution of the match.

The lead was doubled from the spot by Bukayo Saka, but not before Cedric’s bizarre imitation of a crawling infant ended up with him handling in the box, a decision that somehow neither the referee nor VAR deemed foul play.

Cristiano Ronaldo reduced the arrears in a first half that also saw Diogo Dalot strike the crossbar with a dipping effort from range. To call the opening 45 minutes action-packed would be an understatement.

Arsenal get huge slice of fortune in 3-1 Manchester United win as controversial refereeing decisions favour Mikel Arteta’s side

Hoping for a response as the Gunners’ grip on the game loosened, Nuno Tavares’ moment of madness – well, one of his moments – handed Manchester United a penalty ten minutes into the half. Bruno Fernandes, in front of the away fans, missed. That doesn’t happen often.

Arsenal were all over the place. Sixes and sevens. Nuno and Cedric were being roasted either flank, and the woodwork had its busiest afternoon since its final day in the forest. There were poor refereeing decisions that favoured both sides, but Arsenal were getting the rub of the green. How Nuno escaped a possible penalty in the second half when he hauled down Anthony Elanga only Craig Pawson know.

While Bruno Fernandes should have seen red for a clear stamp late on, that came after a goal the Gunners were lucky still stood. Granit Xhaka’s fierce shot fizzed beyond De Gea, a trajectory that was aided by an offside Eddie Nketiah clearly obstructing his line of sight. Whether Lindelof was there or not, he was interfering with play.

But, you know what? We don’t care. We remember Tomiyasu’s face being stamped on. We remember Saka being chopped in half by McArthur. We remember the VAR guesswork against Brighton.

The incidents against Arsenal have been plentiful and, for once, it was our turn to be dished up a healthy slice of fortune. Bruno’s miss, the most crucial moment of the game, was down to his own ineptitude, but the rub of the green favoured Arsenal in a game where they were well up against it for large patches. There is no chance of success in a season without some luck. Arsenal got their fair share, be it the bounce of the ball or the bemusement of decisions.

Positive attacking play and United not capitalising on basic defensive errors, with a few dodgy decision thrown in for good measure, did the trick. Three immeasurably vital points. At this stage of the season it’s just the results that matter.

Did the decisions slightly favour Arsenal? We don’t care.