Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove

TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Eddie Nketiah was Arsenal’s hero after a stunning clash for the ages between these two great clubs on Sunday.

Ashburton Grove was as atmospheric as it has ever been in its 17-year existence, as Arsenal’s Lewisham-born second-string striker proved his worth by grabbing a late, late winner.

First hosted third on a chilly afternoon in North London in a match that was a superb advertisement for open, attacking football as both sides went hammer and tongs to gain a vital victory.

Two goals from Nketiah, including a last gasp winner, were enough to see the Gunners home in a cracking match — after coming from behind to win, and move five points clear with a game in hand.

No wonder, many gleeful Gooners filing past the press box at the final whistle insisted what they had just seen was the match of the season in the Premier League this term after witnessing a vibrant comeback from Mikel Arteta’s hungry young charges.

Yet it all started so well for Erik ten Hag’s United, who, after all, were the only team to beat the Gunners in the league this season — even if the Gunners could, and should have, won on that frustrating September day at Old Trafford.

Fast forward four months, and who would have thought that the defeat would still remain the only league loss for Arteta’s rampant side?

Many in the away end thought they were set to notch a double over Arsenal, when Marcus Rashford powered through to fire past Aaron Ramsdale from outside the box for a fine goal to put Manchester United 1-0 ahead in the 17th minute.

The esprit de corps engendered by Arteta has meant on many occasions this season, his side has simply blown away rivals in the opening stages, not least during their majestic 2-0 victory at the new White Hart Lane last week.

Yet, even going a goal down to an in-form United side, now thankfully jettisoned of the preening, self-absorbed and toxic Ronaldo, held no fears for this vibrant Arsenal side.

This was evidenced by the crowd simply ramping up their fervour. There was no panic. It was more a question of sing louder and carry on.

Seven minutes later, their unstinting support paid dividends, as the lively Nketiah equalised from close range after a spell of Gunners pressure to make the score 1-1.

A long time ago, in a stadium nearby, the world would stop to watch these two titans fight it out. From old warriors Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane, to the more creative but equally combative Dennis Bergkamp and Paul Scholes, to Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistlerooy, to name but a few from a strong cast of plenty.

And that was without mentioning the two prime protagonists, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson. Such is the excitement these two teams are once again generating at the top of the world's most watched league, the latter was present on Sunday, as was his former midfielder and sometime clothes horse, David Beckham.

Sunday had the feel that those present were witnessing the genesis of a new rousing rivalry, albeit far less aggressive, sans flaring tempers, but one equally intense.

The next few years promise a great spectacle between the red and white side of the capital and United’s resurgence 200 miles to the north. For whatever you say about the competition between Manchester City and Liverpool at the height of their respective powers recently, Arsenal vs United simply has the X factor.

An absorbing match erupted into life eight minutes after the interval when Bukayo Saka put Arsenal 2-1 ahead with a cracker.

The home-grown 21-year-old cut inside to curl a low shot past Red Devils keeper David de Gea to send the home support into paroxysms of joy, after scoring one of the finest goals you’ll see this season.

With City breathing down their collars after Erling Haaland’s treble against Wolves earlier in the day, it was no surprise Arteta’s side showed great character to come from behind to lead the other in-form side from Manchester.

However, United immediately showed strength of their own when, only 120 seconds later, Rashford forced an excellent save from Ramsdale. It was a warning Arsenal failed to heed.

On 59 minutes, keeper Ramsdale spilled a cross in a crowded box, as Martinez cleverly headed over the back-pedalling Gabriel to level for ten Hag’s side and make it 2-2.

It was game on, in front of a rocking stadium that coursed with noise — the swaying type that rolls down through the stands, piercing your ears and consuming your senses, the special type that also contains hope and adrenaline, an aural powder keg had been lit, prompted by the explosive thought of possible league glory following 19 long, long years without even a sniff of a title.

Decibels rose still higher when Saka hit the post, after cutting in once again on 69 minutes, as the Gunners pressed for a winner.

New signing from Brighton, Leandro Trossard — a £27 million sensible signing too, in these challenging times of belt tightening amid ongoing economic pain — came on to make his debut in the maelstrom with eight minutes remaining.

As the clock ticked down amid great Arsenal pressure, amid noise levels so loud you thought a plane was taking off, the 28-year-old fed another astute signing, Olexsandr Zinchenko — and how Pep Guardiola must rue sanctioning the Ukrainian’s sale to his old pal, now his burgeoning protege, Arteta.

As play seemed to slow down in anticipation of the match’s vital moment, captain, leader and future legend Martin Odeegard shot — and there was Nketiah to somehow contort and twist his exhausted body to flick the ball home, as fans in an official attendance of 60,325 erupted once again.  

Nketiah had grabbed his second of the match to make it 3-2 to seal this stunning match.

This Friday, Arsenal travel to the City of Manchester Stadium for the first of two crucial matches against City over the coming weeks.

On this evidence, drop whatever you are doing and make sure you watch this game. For The Arsenal are back. And hungry to knock Guardiola’s City off their perch in the hunt for silverware.