Report: Arsenal 2 United 3 | 25 January 2026

FIRST HALF – BRYAN ACCEPTS GIFT TO LEVEL

Non-stop Arsenal pressure had us pinned back in the opening stages, but battles were being won. Casemiro, who announced this week his time at Old Trafford will draw to a close at the end of the season, kept Bukayo Saka in check early on, before Luke Shaw denied his England colleague.

Declan Rice then went on a run and, after a switch with William Saliba, Martinez was called into action to block.

Senne Lammens was next to have his reactions tested, as Rice’s menacing free-kick found Zubimendi. Thankfully the Belgian diverted the header – deflected off Casemiro – behind for a corner.
United were starting to settle and appeared to be stemming the relentless Arsenal flow, but a sucker-punch was around the corner.

Saka plucked a deep cross out of the sky and his centre was bundled home, with Martinez, under pressure from Jurrien Timber, adjudged to have made the final touch.

Carrick’s men refused to be cowed, despite the hosts’ rapid start and ominous record when scoring first this season – 24 wins from 24 games.

First, Bruno Fernandes thrashed wide after Mbeumo’s burst down the left channel. Saliba then made an error, not realising Bruno was behind him, but the defender atoned for his mistake and got a toe to the ball before our skipper could shoot.

They didn’t get away with the next mistake though, Mbeumo pouncing on a Zubimendi lapse as he ceded possession. Our forward didn’t need a second invitation as he kept his cool and slotted home despite pressure from the oncoming David Raya.

The Cameroon international has now scored against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City for the Reds, and this was his 50th Premier League goal in total, with eight of them coming since his summer move.

And he nearly added another just before the break. Dropping his shoulder, our no.19 attempted a lob on the volley from 20 yards out that had Raya scrambling for a split second, but ultimately went wide.