Match ends, Arsenal 2, Manchester United 0.
ArsenalArsenal2Man UtdManchester United0
Mikel Arteta earned his first win as Arsenal boss as the Gunners produced a powerful first-half performance to beat a lacklustre Manchester United.
The visitors, who were without the injured Paul Pogba, actually began brightly, but the game took a different turn on eight minutes when Nicolas Pepe steered in his fifth goal of the season after Sead Kolasinac's cross was deflected to him.
That led to a first half in which the hosts were in control and Pepe hit the post before they doubled their lead when his corner was smashed in from close range by Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
Ole Gunnar Solskajer's side came into the game with one loss in their previous nine games, and although they improved after the break, they rarely tested Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
It was characteristic of a stop-start season in which they are yet to win three Premier League games in a row.
The defeat leaves them fifth in the table, five points behind Chelsea, who drew with Brighton earlier in the day.
Victory for Arsenal ended a run of seven home games without a win in all competitions and lifted them to 10th place, four points behind United.
But they remain closer to the relegation zone than the top four.
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Pepe peps up Arsenal
There has been evidence of a lift in Arsenal's three performances since Arteta was appointed, but without a win, questions remained as to whether he was the right man to take over from former boss Unai Emery, given his lack of experience as a manager.
Arteta was just an onlooker in the stands for the lifeless draw at Everton, but that was followed by a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Boxing Day and a crushing late defeat by Chelsea at home last Sunday.
This was a different game altogether, though, as Arsenal put the pieces together. With Granit Xhaka, who has been linked with a move to Hertha Berlin, restored to the midfield, the Swiss and Lucas Torreira were quicker to the tackle than their opponents.
Mesut Ozil covered 11.54km, more distance than any other Arsenal player.
While record £72m signing Pepe was at the heart of Arsenal's attacking endeavour as they were roared on by their fans.
After scoring early on, he sent United left-back Luke Shaw halfway down the Holloway Road with a sharp turn before setting up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who sliced a volley over.
The Ivorian then fed Alexandre Lacazette, who somehow hit his shot out for a throw-in from about six yards out, before Torreira went close from another Pepe pass.
The hosts had to withstand greater pressure from Solskjaer's side in the second period but in contrast to the Chelsea defeat, when they conceded twice in the last seven minutes, Arteta's side managed the game well.
Their only concerns were injuries to Kolasinac and Lacazette, who were both taken off in the second half.
Pogba-less United show further cause for concern
Manchester United improved after the break, but it would have been hard not to do so after a poor first half.
Marcus Rashford had tested Bernd Leno in the first minute, but once they went behind to Pepe's opener, they struggled to match Arsenal's superior energy in midfield.
Jesse Lingard, who returned to the starting line-up, was hardly involved while Nemanja Matic could not get to grips with Ozil, Torreira or Xhaka, who were often one step ahead.
It was another game where Solskjaer's team missed the influence of Pogba, who has not started a game in three months. After the game, the United boss said the French midfielder had picked up an ankle injury which would need an operation, keeping him out for "three or four weeks".
Prior to the game, it had been hinted that Pogba would be fit to play.
United did lift their game once Lingard was substituted, with his replacement Andreas Pereira almost making an instant impact as he hit the side netting.
There were also chances for Fred and substitute Mason Greenwood, but without the injured Scott McTominay, and the ongoing problems with Pogba, United looked short on creativity in midfield and need to find solutions quickly should they want to maintain a top-four challenge.
Man of the Match - Nicolas Pepe
Arsenal finally beat top half team - the best stats
- This was Arsenal's first Premier League win this season against a team currently in the top half of the Premier League (P10 W1 D4 L5).
- Nicolas Pepe has scored all his five goals for Arsenal in all competitions in London - four at the Emirates and one at London Stadium.
- Arsenal have scored eight goals via corners in the Premier League this season, two more than any other team.
- Manchester United have now lost four of their past five away Premier League visits to Arsenal (W1).
What next?
Arsenal host Leeds on Monday, 6 January in the FA Cup third round (kick-off 19:56 GMT), while Manchester United travel to Wolves on Saturday, 4 January (kick-off 17:31) in a repeat of their quarter-final defeat last season.
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Leno
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 5Papastathopoulos
- 23David Luiz
- 31KolasinacBooked at 3minsSubstituted forSakaat 69'minutesBooked at 82mins
- 11Torreira
- 34Xhaka
- 19PépéSubstituted forNelsonat 62'minutes
- 10Özil
- 14Aubameyang
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forGuendouziat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Ceballos
- 16Holding
- 24Nelson
- 26E Martínez
- 28Willock
- 29Guendouzi
- 77Saka
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2Lindelöf
- 5Maguire
- 23Shaw
- 17Fred
- 31MaticSubstituted forMataat 81'minutes
- 21JamesSubstituted forGreenwoodat 58'minutes
- 14LingardSubstituted forPereiraat 58'minutes
- 10Rashford
- 9Martial
Substitutes
- 4Jones
- 8Mata
- 15Pereira
- 18Young
- 22Romero
- 26Greenwood
- 53Williams
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
- Attendance:
- 60,328
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenalAway TeamMan Utd
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home1
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Manchester United 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Fred (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
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Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Juan Mata with a through ball.
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Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Andreas Pereira (Manchester United).
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Sokratis (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Anthony Martial (Manchester United).
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by David Luiz.
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Attempt blocked. Fred (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Matteo Guendouzi replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Juan Mata replaces Nemanja Matic.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexandre Lacazette.
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Attempt saved. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
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Attempt missed. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Sokratis.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
Comments
Join the conversation
De Gea coughing up howler after howler
Maguire misses another sitter
Shaw offering nothing going forward
Lingard invisible
James still hasn't scored in 4 months
Fred hitting freekicks like he's Jonny Wilkinson
Ole sat on the bench looking clueless
New year, same old Man United
Utd on the other hand dreadful. Bissaka £65 mil? Maguite £85 mil? What a joke! Devoid of ideas or vision.. Ole is an absolute Prat! They'll probably blame Pogba for tonight..
No one likes Utd, how the Glory days have gone!!
Manchester United: Hold my turkey!
Thanks Arsenal from the football world 😁
P.S May man u still make us laugh throughout the year and a happy new year to all united fans 🥂
Landed on the moon that free kick 🌙
1) Man Utd
2) Ole moonlighting as PL Manager
3) Ole's Wheel
4) JLingz pretending to play football
5) Fergies Red Face
6) Maguire £85 Million
7) Only Fools & Horses
8) Tax McDodgers Brain Power
9) Fawlty Towers
10) Giggs pulling his brothers bird
Thank you Man Utd, the Gift that keeps giving 😂😂😂
Well played Gooners. Good start to the New Year.
It is January 1st 2020.
Worst manager in the league.
Completely outcoached by Arteta who already has added some discipline to quite an average Arsenal bunch. As for Ole?? He just stands there & hopes for the best.
AND against Man Utd.
AND a clean sheet.
Well done, lads.