Player ratings as Rashford double sinks Gunners

A double from Marcus Rashford powered Manchester United to a fourth successive victory as they edged Arsenal 3-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

United engineered the first opportunity of the afternoon. Diogo Dalot stood up a cross towards the back post where Christian Eriksen arrived to plant a left-footed volley wide of the target.

Arsenal went immediately up the other end and passed up a chance of their own. The ball ricocheted across the penalty box from a throw-in, falling to William Saliba who steered his finish wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Indeed, the Gunners thought they had fashioned the perfect start when Gabriel Martinelli dispatched beyond David De Gea. Albert Sambi Lokonga threaded a gorgeous through pass into the Brazilian, but VAR intervened and ruled that Martin Odegaard had fouled Christian Eriksen in the process of gaining possession.

Mikel Arteta’s side began to settle with Martinelli drawing a fine stop from De Gea after meeting Odegaard’s clipped cross at the back post.

However, it was United who struck first to break the deadlock. Eriksen reversed a cute pass into Fernandes in midfield who drew Gabriel out of defence with a driving run. Exploiting the space, United moved the ball out right to debutant Antony who curled a finish beyond Ramsdale and into the far corner.

Arsenal emerged for the second half with renewed vigour. Gabriel Jesus did well to spin Lisandro Martinez from a throw-in but Odegaard made a meal of his pull-back. From the second phase, Saka did well to control a loose ball before firing wide of De Gea’s far post.

For all of the Gunners’ pressure, however, United hit them with a sucker punch down the opposite end. A cheap turnover allowed Fernandes to free Rashford in behind the Arsenal defence with only Ramsdale to beat, firing low into the bottom corner with the aid of a Ben White deflection.

Arteta threw the kitchen sink at going for an equaliser, but Arsenal were left exposed defensively. Eriksen was offered the freedom of Old Trafford to latch onto a pass on the halfway line and run at the visitors’ goal. He selflessly squared to Rashford to stroke into an empty net.

Here’s how both teams rated.

GK: David De Gea – 6/10 – Had very little to contend with in terms of shots on target, making a smart stop to deny Martinelli in the first half.