Report, result and goals as Red Devils stun leaders

Manchester United produced a dramatic late turnaround at the Emirates Stadium to defeat Arsenal 3-2, handing the hosts a rare home league defeat and pile the pressure on in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal began strongly and controlled much of the opening half-hour. They dominated possession, pinned United back, and created the clearer chances early on.

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were heavily involved down the right, while Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi found space between the lines.

The best opportunity of the opening phase fell to Zubimendi, whose near-post header from a Rice free-kick was brilliantly tipped over by United goalkeeper Lammens at point-blank range.

United struggled to establish any sustained rhythm but gradually began to pose a threat in transition. Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo both went close as Arsenal’s back line showed signs of vulnerability when pressed.

That pressure told in the 29th minute, though not in the way United intended. Arsenal took the lead when Odegaard’s effort from inside the box deflected off Lisandro Martinez and into his own net after sustained pressure from a corner sequence.

Rather than settle Arsenal, the goal unsettled them. Eight minutes later, a costly error at the back allowed United back into the contest. Zubimendi’s misplaced pass towards David Raya fell straight to Mbeumo, who took advantage and finished calmly to make it 1-1.

United finished the half with growing confidence, forcing Raya into action and testing Arsenal’s composure in possession.

United carried that momentum into the second half and took the lead five minutes after the restart. Patrick Dorgu drifted inside from the left, exchanged passes with Fernandes, and curled a superb effort into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Mikel Arteta responded with four substitutions just before the hour mark, introducing fresh legs and reshaping the side. Arsenal began to apply sustained pressure, largely through set-pieces and wide deliveries.

Saka, now wearing the armband, was central to everything Arsenal created, repeatedly testing Lammens with crosses and shots from the edge of the box.

The equaliser arrived in the 84th minute. Another dangerous Saka delivery caused chaos in the six-yard box.

William Saliba’s header was blocked on the line, but Mikel Merino reacted quickest to fire the rebound over the line despite a further attempted clearance. At 2-2, Arsenal appeared to have swung the contest back in their favour.

The response from United was immediate. Just three minutes later, Kobbie Mainoo found Matheus Cunha in space on the edge of the area.

Cunha took a touch and guided a low shot into the bottom corner beyond Raya to restore United’s lead. It was a clinical moment in a game otherwise littered with mistakes.

The closing stages were frantic. Arsenal threw numbers forward, introducing Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke in search of a late equaliser.

Gyokeres twice went close in stoppage time, once being denied by Lammens after breaking through the centre, and again in the final moments when Raya’s long punt caused panic in the United defence. Each time, United survived.