Manchester United 3-1 Arsenal: 3 talking points from the Gunners’ first defeat

Arsenal suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday afternoon as they were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United.

Mikel Arteta made one change from the side that defeated Aston Villa in the week with Oleksandr Zinchenko returning to the starting line-up.

After United bossed the opening ten minutes, Arsenal thought they had taken the lead. After Christian Eriksen was dispossessed by Martin Odegaard, Sambi Lokonga threaded a beautiful pass through to Gabriel Martinelli, who calmly slotted home. However, after a lengthy VAR review, it was deemed that Odegaard had fouled Eriksen in the build-up.

United took the lead with 11 minutes remaining in the half, and it was new boy Antony who put his side ahead with a well-taken finish before Bukayo Saka deservedly equalised for the Gunners on the hour.

It didn’t take United long to resthe tore their lead, however, as Bruno Fernandes threaded a superb ball through to Marcus Rashford, who ran off William Saliba and finished with aplomb. Rashford then added a third for the hosts after Mikel Arteta’s tactical switch left the Gunners horribly exposed in defence and Eriksen took full advantage by darting in behind.

Manchester United 3-1 Arsenal: 3 talking points from Gunners’ first defeat

The result saw Arsenal’s 100% start to the Premier League season come to an end as they suffered their first defeat, and here are three talking points from the game.

1. Undefeated start comes to an end

Arsenal’s 100% start to the 2022/23 season has been brought to a close six games in.

While, for the most part, the Gunners were the superior outfit, the visitors’ inability to shun United in transition proved costly. The Red Devils were slick and incisive in attack, with Bruno and Eriksen starring.

Winning every game is impossible, so it was always going to happen, but Arsenal fans would have wished it wasn’t against their bitter rivals.

The performance was good on face value, but as they say, goals change games, and United banked three at Old Trafford as they halted Arsenal’s perfect season.

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