Rice scores as Arsenal hit back to beat Man Utd
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 3, 2023 Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates REUTERS/David Klein
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Declan Rice
scored his first goal for Arsenal and Gabriel Jesus added the icing on the cake
as Arsenal roared back from a goal down to beat Manchester United 3-1 at the
Emirates on Sunday.
Marcus
Rashford gave the visitors the lead against the run of play in the first half
but Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard equalised seconds later.
The Gunners
had a penalty award overturned following a VAR check and United were denied
what could have been a late winner when substitute Alejandro Garnacho was ruled
offside.
The home
side kept up the pressure in eight minutes of added time and were rewarded when
Rice controlled a corner and shot past Andre Onana with the help of a
deflection off Jonny Evans.
There was
still time for another goal as substitute Jesus burst forward, teasing Onana
before putting the ball in the net.
The result
leaves Arsenal fifth in the table after their third win in four games, two
points behind leaders Manchester City, while United are 11th in the table.
Earlier,
Arsenal shot out of the blocks, pinning United back in the warm September
sunshine.
The home
side should have taken the lead in the 13th minute but new signing Kai Havertz
miskicked horrendously from inside the area with the goal at his mercy.
Arsenal
continued to dominate, pressing high and forcing United into awkward situations
at the back.
The game
exploded into life shortly before the half-hour mark when United took the lead
against the run of play after a speedy counter-attack.
Christian
Eriksen picked up a loose ball in midfield and burst forward, producing a
perfectly weighted pass for Rashford, running down the left-hand channel.
The England
forward, largely anonymous in the early stages, cut inside and past two
defenders before unleashing a shot past the despairing dive of Aaron Ramsdale.
But the
Gunners were level just a minute later when Odegaard, unmarked in the area,
blasted home from just inside the box after being found by the impressive
Gabriel Martinelli.
But for all
the home side's enterprising play, they mustered just one shot on target in the
first half.
Arsenal were
the quicker to settle after the break and were awarded a penalty just before
the hour mark when Havertz tumbled in the box after being sandwiched between
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Casemiro but referee Anthony Taylor overturned his
decision following a VAR check.
United boss
Erik ten Hag gave new signing Rasmus Hojlund his first action in a United
shirt, bringing on the Denmark forward for Martial in the 67th minute, also
introducing former captain Harry Maguire for Lisandro Martinez.
Martinelli
curled a shot just wide as Arsenal continued to look the more likely winners,
but United looked dangerous on the break.
Arsenal boss
Mikel Arteta made three changes, including bringing on Jesus for the lively
Nketiah.
Garnacho
appeared to have won the game for United in the 88th minute but VAR ruled he
was marginally off-side.
United lost
all six matches away to other members of the top seven last season, conceding
3.66 goals per away match on average and Sunday's result spells more away-day
misery.

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