LONDON
\nManchester United loosened Arsenal\u2019s grip on the Premier League title race with a 3-2 win in north London on Sunday thanks to stunning second-half goals by Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha.
\nVictory would have restored Arsenal\u2019s seven-point lead over chasers Manchester City and Aston Villa, both of whom won this weekend, but Mikel Arteta\u2019s side instead left the door open as they lost at home for the first time this season.
\nUnited\u2019s win, their first in the league at Arsenal since 2017, lifted them to fourth, and while they are not in the title equation themselves, it fueled the new-found optimism sweeping the club since Michael Carrick stepped in as interim coach.
\nEverything was going to plan for Arsenal when they took the lead in the 29th minute \u200cwith a \u200cLisandro Martinez own goal. But a terrible mistake by Martin Zubimendi \u200cin the 37th \u200cminute gifted United an equalizer for Bryan Mbeumo.
\nDorgu then smashed a ferocious shot in off the crossbar to put United ahead in the 50th minute but substitute Mikel Merino prodded the hosts level in the 84th. United were not finished though and substitute Cunha was allowed to advance toward Arsenal\u2019s goal before curling a low shot past the dive of David Raya from 25 meters to spark wild celebrations among the visiting fans.
\nArsenal, who are now winless in three league games after two 0-0 draws, have 50 points from 23 games with City and Villa on 46.
\n\u200cUnited moved fourth with 38 points. United\u2019s win followed their 2-0 \u200ddefeat of Manchester City last weekend in Carrick\u2019s first game of his second spell as the club\u2019s interim manager.
\nThe nerves \u200dare clearly starting to show at Arsenal as they seek their first title since 2004. Even after Martinez got his legs in a tangle and deflected Martin Odegaard\u2019s shot past his own keeper, Arsenal never looked completely at ease and slowly lost control of the game.
\nThe omens still looked bad for United at that stage with Arsenal having won their last 15 Premier League games in which they had taken the lead. But when William \u2060Saliba passed to Zubimendi who in turn gifted the ball straight to Mbeumo to score in style, the visitors suddenly sensed an opportunity.
\nThings took a dark turn for Arsenal five minutes after the interval. Again their defense was found wanting as Dorgu was allowed to control a bouncing ball before thumping a left-foot volley in off the crossbar past a stunned Raya.Arteta reacted by making four substitutions, sending on Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Ben White while Noni Madueke also joined the fray later from a stacked bench.
\nThere was huge relief when United failed to deal with a corner and Merino prodded in from close range \u2014 the ball being adjudged to have crossed the line after a brief delay.It looked \u200cas though Arsenal had got out of jail and might even snatch a win but United\u2019s belief was unwavering as Cunha delivered a gift to City and Villa. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONDON Manchester United loosened Arsenal\u2019s grip on the Premier League title race with a 3-2 win in north London on Sunday thanks to stunning second-half goals by Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha. Victory would have restored Arsenal\u2019s seven-point lead over chasers Manchester City and Aston Villa, both of whom won this weekend, but Mikel Arteta\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":527937,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-527926","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n