Arsenal punish Manchester United with set-piece precision

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans on the pitch after an English Premier League football match ( HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP)

Arsenal showcased their set-piece prowess to secure a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates on Wednesday, handing Ruben Amorim his first defeat as United manager. The win keeps Arsenal firmly in the Premier League title hunt, narrowing the gap on leaders Liverpool to seven points after the Reds drew 3-3 at Newcastle.

A tense first half saw both sides neutralize each other, but the Gunners came alive after the break. Jurrien Timber headed home his first goal for Arsenal in the 54th minute, converting a sharp near-post corner from Declan Rice. Just 19 minutes later, William Saliba sealed the result, capitalizing on chaos from a Bukayo Saka delivery. Arsenal's dominance from dead balls proved decisive, bringing their tally of goals from corners to a league-leading 22 since last season.

Manager Mikel Arteta lauded his side's tactical execution and resilience: "A special day-500 games in this stadium. We scored two from set pieces, but we could have had more from open play. Despite missing key players, the team delivered, and the atmosphere here is just electric."

Ruben Amorim, who made six changes to his starting XI, including benching stars Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo, admitted his side struggled to cope. "The set pieces changed the game," Amorim reflected. "Until then, there weren't many chances. But Arsenal's quality in those moments made the difference. We'll learn and come back stronger."

Despite early pressure, including a missed header from Thomas Partey, United offered little threat in attack. They failed to capitalize on their limited chances, with Arsenal keeper David Raya denying Matthijs de Ligt's header from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick.

The victory extends Arsenal's winning streak to three games, signaling a return to form after last month's dip. Meanwhile, Amorim's promising start at United now faces its first real test, as the Portuguese manager seeks to rebuild confidence and consistency.

With the title race heating up, Arsenal's next challenge is maintaining their momentum, while United will aim to regroup and iron out their defensive vulnerabilities.