FA Premierleague

ARSENAL 3 (Odegaard 28, Rice 96, Jesus 101) 

MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (Rashford 27)

DECLAN Rice capped a man of the match performance with a dream injury time winner against United.

The midfield general went a long way to repaying his big summer transfer fee with a magical moment in the Sunday evening sunshine.

He had put in a strong performance – particularly in the first half – mixing crunching tackles and calmness under pressure.

And he will surely never forget that glorious moment covered in a mound of his new teammates and fans with the stadium in full berserk-mode.

He took time to control the ball for his goal and didn’t thrash at it despite the huge pressure, turning a strong into the United net, admittedly with a slight deflection.

But there was more to come.

In the 101st minute, the returning Jesus ran half the pitch before – in a moment of pure joy – sitting defender Diago Dalot down as he chopped back onto his right foot and rolled the ball into the far corner.

There was total bedlam and after the match Mikel Arteta said: “To see the crowd so connected with the team again, in a big match like today –  it’s something great.

On Rice he said: “It was a tremendous performance. The way he dominates the area and the pressing he does.

“And how he plies the team together in many moments. And then he produced that magic moment.

“He is unique. He showed it today. A natural footballer, and a great kid. He is demanding with himself, and a bit of banter with the team. It’s a good mixture.”

Arsenal needed this. The carnival atmosphere that propelled the side last season is back.

The first three games had been awkward and frustrating.

But it could have been so different. Just before the late goals glory, VAR had ruled out what looked for all money to be a late winner from Alejandro Garnacho.

The replay refs had also overturned a penalty awarded to Arsenal earlier in the half.

Kai Havertz was exposed for taking a tumble through on goal without being touched.

The former Chelsea misfit had another poor game again and he – and also Eddie Nketiah – can thank the late goals for deflecting attention away from their deficiencies.

In the first half, Havertz air shotted what looked to be a certain goal.

He then lost the ball that led to Marcus Rashford’s breakaway opener – firmly curled past diving Aaron Ramsdale who got a finger to it.

He finished the half with a feeble attempt to head at the back post.

It was no wonder a player so low on confidence would choose to dive for a penalty when effectively clean through on goal.

Defender Gabriel was back in the starting line up after being consigned to the bench as Mikel Arteta dispensed with his experimental formation and tactics that had failed to impress in the first three games.

But the manager mysteries continued to baffle the fans as Leandro Trossard was left as an unused sub, despite Arsenal chasing the game.

It feels like the steal from Brighton is being punished, but it is not clear for what.

Fabio Vieira came on and looks to have improved after an uncertain first season.

United defended well and could easily have won the game despite Arsenal’s dominance.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was excellent throughout and blunted Martinelli’s attacks down the left wing.

Nketiah, despite his England call up, did not get a shot away and really didn’t look like much of a threat throughout the game.

The Gunners took the three points but they had once again looked a little disjointed.

The slick, fast-paced passing and direct play that was such a joy to watch last season is not there.

Arsenal responded immediately to Rashford’s opener with an equaliser a minute later: Martin Odegaard swept in a fantastic finish from a Martinelli pull back.

Bukayo Saka did not have his greatest game, and will thank the late goals for making fans forget him passing the ball straight to Onana from five yards out in an incredible miss with ten minutes to go.

Arteta said that Thomas Partey had injured his groin in training and “it doesn’t look good” with the midfielder looking likely to be out “for weeks”.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Saliba, White, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu 76), Rice, Havertz (Vieira 76), Odegaard, Martinelli (Nelson 88), Saka, Nketiah (Jesus 76)
Subs not used: Raya, Rowe, Kiwior, Trossard, Jorginho,

United: Onana, Lindelof (Evans 84), Martinez (Maguire 66), Fernandes, Martial (Hajlund 66), Rashford, Eriksen, Casemiro, Dalot, Antony, Wan-Bissaka
Subs not used: Bayindir, Regulion, Garnacho, Pellistri, Gore, Mejbri

Attendance 60,192