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01/25 13:36 CST Man United and Matheus Cunha stun Arsenal with 3-2 win to blow
Premier League title race wide open
Man United and Matheus Cunha stun Arsenal with 3-2 win to blow Premier League
title race wide open
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
MANCHESTER, England (AP) --- Matheus Cunha blew the Premier League title race
wide open with a stunning winner as Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-2 on
Sunday.
The Brazil international curled a long-range shot past goalkeeper David Raya in
the 87th minute to decide a thrilling game at the Emirates Stadium that leaves
Arsenal just four points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of
the standings.
Cunha said it was "100%" his best moment since joining United last summer.
"These are the kind of games we dream to play in," he told Sky Sports. "The
games that we watch on television and we want to be part of."
United is up to fourth after back-to-back wins under head coach Michael
Carrick, who is increasingly strengthening his case to be given the job on a
long-term basis, having beaten City in his previous game in charge.
Two games in, Carrick has beaten the top two in England's top flight.
"He's been brilliant with us. He's brought a fresh energy and the group has
really galvanized," said United defender Harry Maguire. "Two tough games and
everyone probably thinks we are going to come away with not many points. But to
win both is magnificent."
For Arsenal it's three games without a win in the league to give hope to its
title rivals. This was its first home loss this season and came despite taking
the lead in the 29th through Lisandro Martinez's own-goal when trying to block
Martin Odegaard's shot.
If that was a gift, so was United's equalizer in the 37th. Martin Zubimendi's
loose pass played Bryan Mbeumo through on goal and the Cameroon forward rounded
Raya to fire into the empty net. It was his second goal in as many games since
returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, having also scored against City last
week.
Patrick Dorgu was also on the score sheet against City and he crashed in a
spectacular long-ranger off the underside of the bar five minutes into the
second half to put United in front.
Mikel Merino looked to have salvaged at least a draw for Arsenal when he
bundled in an equalizer in the 84th until Cunha's outrageous winner.
"The performance wasn't good enough and we should have done better. Now it is
time to stick together more and to keep working and bounce back," said Arsenal
captain Odegaard.
Villa on the march Aston Villa kept up its unlikely title challenge with a 2-0 win against Newcastle. Emiliano Buendia and Ollie Watkins scored in each half at St. James' Park to move third-place Villa level on points with Manchester City in second on 46 points and four behind Arsenal. Buendia fired Villa ahead with a dipping shot from outside of the area in the 19th minute and Watkins doubled the lead in the 88th. Villa has not won the title since 1981 and seven years ago was playing in the second-tier Championship. But under coach Unai Emery, the Midlands club has been transformed. And it is firmly in the race for the title after its 13th win in its last 16 league games. City is ahead of Villa on goal difference after a 2-0 win against last-place Wolves on Saturday. Rosenior's Chelsea wins again Chelsea is also going in the right direction under new coach Liam Rosenior. Goals from Estevao, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez sealed a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace. Rosenior has won four of his five games in charge in all competitions, with two of those coming in the league. Forest eases relegation worries At the bottom of the standings Nottingham Forest picked up a crucial 2-0 win at Brentford to reopen a five-point gap to the relegation zone. West Ham's 3-1 win against Sunderland on Saturday saw the London club move to within two points of 17th-place Forest. But an unlikely win for Forest at high-flying Brentford boosted its survival chances. Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi got the goals in each half for Sean Dyche's team. ___ James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer |
