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Declan Rice has his first big moment in an Arsenal shirt, and their season may have lift-off. His 96th-minute goal to give Mikel Arteta\u2019s side a late 3-1 win over Manchester United was all the more uplifting for the home crowd and all the better for him because neither he nor the home side had been at their best. It was an erratic game.<\/p>\n
None of that will now matter, as everything about their performance will feel so much better. Gabriel Jesus\u2019 late breakaway strike to make it 3-1 even made it look better on paper. It also genuinely matters in the table, even as early as the third of September. Had United hung on for the draw here, Arsenal would have found themselves four points behind Manchester City already, something that didn\u2019t happen until May last season.<\/p>\n
That could have been it, even now. You could feel that weighing over the game in Arsenal\u2019s raucous celebration, and how Arteta so vigorously celebrated. There was more here than beating a historic rival, even this late.<\/p>\n
Read Miguel Delaney\u2019s<\/em> report from the Emirates:<\/p>\n Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United: Rice had his first signature moment in a Gunners shirt to ensure his new side didn\u2019t lose ground in the title race<\/p>\n \u201cWe work and do everything for moments like this. This is sport at the top level; it is about the small margins. It could have gone either way.<\/p>\n \u201cI am really happy obviously. They are a great team, really well coached and they make life difficult for you. When we gave the goal away that we did you are always up against it and in the Premier League that\u2019s dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe performance was alright from us. I thought we played a very good game but everything went against us – you don\u2019t win the game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe needed a little bit more luck to win the game. It [Garnacho\u2019s goal] was not offside – it was the wrong angle. It was then a penalty on Hojlund and then we conceded a goal that was a foul on Jonny Evans. It\u2019s so clear and obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can say you need to finish your chances and that you shouldn\u2019t concede a goal after going 1-0 up. This is all true, but I was happy with the performance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe were knocking at the door on the corners, I had a chance in the first half but I felt we were a constant threat. The one at the end, I scored stayed at the back post, I controlled it on my chin and scored.\u201d<\/p>\n On the importance of the result: <\/strong>\u201cMan City have won four out of four. We would be five points behind them if we didn\u2019t win. To catch up points on them is a massive task so we couldn\u2019t afford to give them that after four games.<\/p>\n \u201cTo win that today was a must-win. We said that before the game and to now go into the international break with a couple of wins and a draw is really good.\u201d <\/p>\n Arsenal\u2019s impressive record not only against United but also after going a goal behind continues. <\/p>\n They are now unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against Manchester United at home and have now only lost two of the last nine league games at the Emirates in which they\u2019ve conceded the opening goal, and have come back to win five of those (D2).<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at the two injury-time goals: First, Declan Rice\u2019s deflected effort from the corner:<\/p>\n Then, Jesus\u2019s clinical effort on the break as United pushed for an equaliser:<\/p>\n Erik ten Hag\u2019s worrying record against the \u2018big six\u2019 continues with yet another defeat. They led after Rashford\u2019s opener but struggled to great any big chances outside of Garnacho\u2019s ruled-out goal. <\/p>\n They were let off when VAR overturned a penalty for Arsenal after Wan-Bissaka tumbled with Havertz but ultimately let it slip in the final moments. <\/p>\n Having been outplayed by Tottenham a fortnight ago, it\u2019s another concerning performance against a top-four contender. Questions for the manager to answer no doubt, in the coming games. <\/p>\n What a finish and what a result for Arsenal! <\/p>\n Garnacho thought he had won it late on off the bench for United but the Argentine\u2019s effort was ruled out for offside.<\/p>\n From there, it was Rice who got his Arsenal account up and running with a 96th-minute winner before Jesus sealed the deal with a superb counter-attacking finish.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve definitely won it now! United pour numbers forward in search of a late equaliser and Arsenal can break through Jesus. The Brazilian surges forward into the box before beating the sliding Dalot with a composed cutback. He opens his body up and carves it past Onana into the far post!<\/p>\n What a dramatic finish here at the Emirates but it will be Arsenal who walk away with the three points.<\/p>\n Arsenal have surely won it at the death! <\/p>\n A late corner is swung in from the right and it comes all the way through to Rice. He controls it on his chest, before striking on goal. The ball takes a deflection off Evans and sneaks past Onana at the near post.<\/p>\n Rice slides away in celebration – the new signing has his big moment in front of the home fans as the rest of the team runs to embrace him. <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/03\/18\/SEI170012590.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDeclan Rice rises to the moment as Arsenal avoid disastrous slip-up<\/h3>\n
Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports<\/h3>\n
Man United boss, Erik ten Hag, speaking to Sky Sports<\/h3>\n
Declan Rice speaking to Sky Sports<\/h3>\n
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United<\/h3>\n
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United<\/h3>\n
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United<\/h3>\n
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United<\/h3>\n
Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United (Jesus, \u201890+10)<\/h3>\n
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United (Rice, \u201890+6)<\/h3>\n