Arsenal's 100 percent record at the start of the Premier League season is over after falling to their first defeat at the hands of Manchester United on Sunday. The Gunners were put to the sword at Old Trafford, conceding three goals and grabbing a consolation as their unbeaten run came to an end.
Mikel Arteta's men entered the fixture with the hope of maintaining a four-point lead atop the Premier League with a win at Manchester United. It would have been the first time Arsenal had started a Premier League season with six straight wins and they seemed to be course as they dominated play right from the onset. Gabriel Martinelli appeared to have put the visitors in front in the 13th minute but had his goal canceled after VAR ruled that Martin Odegaard had fouled Christian Eriksen in the buildup.
10 minutes before the break, United's ruthlessness on the counter-attack delivered an instant result, with Marcus Rashford putting the ball on the plate for Antony to score on his debut. However, parity was restored in the early minutes of the second half, hinting at a potential change in tide, with Bukayo Saka scoring his first goal of the season.
Nice to finally meet you, Old Trafford!! @ManUtd
— Antony Santos (@antony00) September 4, 2022
@ESPNBrasil pic.twitter.com/0xaFFCNktv
Arsenal dictated the tempo of the game from that point onward but were punished against the run of play. Bruno Fernandes got in-behind the Gunner's midfield and set Marcus Rashford up to finish off another counter-attack, putting United ahead inside the 66th minute.
23 - Bruno Fernandes has assisted 23 goals in open play in the Premier League, the most of any player in the competition since his debut (Feb 1 2020):
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 4, 2022
23 - Bruno Fernandes
22 - Kevin De Bruyne
22 - Mohamed Salah
21 - Harry Kane
18 - Gabriel Jesus
Moses. pic.twitter.com/FHQpbPgZqU
In the 75th minute, the hosts were able to carve Arsenal's defence open once more. This time Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen combined for their side's third goal of the night, putting the game beyond the reach of the visitors.
Manchester United climbed into fifth position following the night's win, taking their point tally to 13. They are only the third side in Premier League history to win four in a row after losing their opening two in a season, after Tottenham in 2011-12 and Arsenal in 2018-19.
7 - Arsenal have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League matches against Manchester United when starting the day top of the table (D2 L5). Complex. pic.twitter.com/SwVLOpNOo5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 4, 2022