Arsenal Deliver Second-Half Masterclass to Overpower Manchester United 2-0

Arsenal produced a dominant second-half performance to defeat a limp Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, extending their impressive run of form and sending the Red Devils to their first defeat under Ruben Amorim. The victory highlighted the Gunners' growing prowess from set-pieces, with both of their goals coming from corners in a match that saw them assert their superiority after a rather uninspiring first half.

While the opening 45 minutes offered little in terms of quality or goal-scoring opportunities, Arsenal's intensity ramped up after the break, and they quickly imposed their set-piece strategy. Declan Rice's pinpoint delivery from a corner kick in the 53rd minute found Jurrien Timber, who flicked the ball home to give the hosts the lead. The breakthrough seemed to trigger an Arsenal avalanche, with the home side creating chance after chance.

It wasn’t long before their second goal arrived, and it came from another corner. This time, the ball ricocheted off William Saliba, who unintentionally bundled the delivery into his own net to double Arsenal's advantage in the 67th minute.

The contrast in the teams' performance was stark. Arsenal's final expected goals (xG) of 2.33 dwarfed Manchester United's meager 0.31, reflecting the hosts' domination in the second half. United struggled to break down Arsenal's defense and failed to register a single meaningful attempt on goal after the break, marking a disappointing display under Amorim.

The result also marked a historic achievement for Arsenal, as they extended their winning streak against Manchester United to four consecutive league victories, their best run against the Red Devils in the club’s history. Additionally, they have now won each of their last four home league meetings with United, a streak not seen since 1978 when Arsenal managed seven consecutive home wins over their rivals.

For Ruben Amorim, the defeat marked his first in league competition since December 2023, ending a remarkable 34-match unbeaten run in domestic leagues, which included stints with Sporting CP. The Portuguese manager will now be tasked with quickly regrouping his team, as United face a crucial home match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, on the other hand, continue to impress, climbing back to within seven points of the Premier League summit. With 11 goals in their last four league games, the Gunners' attacking form is firing on all cylinders, and they will travel to Fulham this weekend in high spirits.

Arsenal’s strength from set-pieces has become a defining feature of their play under Arteta, with the Gunners now having scored 22 goals from corners since the start of last season—the most in the Premier League. Remarkably, 10 of those goals have come from opening the scoring, further underscoring the importance of this facet of their game.

As the Premier League season continues, Arsenal's formidable set-piece threat, combined with their renewed attacking confidence, positions them as a team to watch as they aim to close the gap at the top of the table. Meanwhile, United's limp performance tonight will raise questions about their ability to respond after suffering their first defeat under Amorim.