Arsenal leave it late to sink United, Liverpool cruise
LONDON: Goals deep in stoppage time by record signing Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus earned Arsenal a sensational 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday while Dominik Szoboszlai scored his first goal for Liverpool and Mohamed Salah netted his seventh in seven games against Aston Villa as the hosts eased to a 3-0 victory.
It looked as though both sides would have to settle for a point after United had a late goal disallowed and Arsenal had a penalty overturned, but Rice sent the home fans into delirium as he opened his account with a deflected shot in the 96th minute.
Jesus then wrapped it up with a sublime finish after a counter-attack with United having committed everyone forward.
United were left crestfallen especially as they had what they thought was a late winner scored by substitute Alejandro Garnacho ruled out for offside after a VAR video check.
Marcus Rashford gave United the lead against the run of play in the 27th minute, lashing home a shot after a counter-attack, but their joy did not last long though as Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal’s equaliser less than a minute later.
Arsenal were awarded a penalty midway through the second period when Kai Havertz went down in the area but referee Anthony Taylor changed his mind after checking the VAR monitor.
Mikel Arteta’s side have 10 points along with three other clubs after four games, two behind leaders Manchester City.
United are in 11th place on six points after already losing twice.
Earlier, a return to the top four looked like it could be the limit of Liverpool’s ambitions for the new campaign after a difficult summer in the transfer market led them to miss out on a number of targets.
Klopp has had to completely rebuild his midfield, but new signings Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have slotted in with ease.
Salah was a constant threat and there is little doubting Liverpool’s firepower up front with Darwin Nunez now finding his feet after a difficult first season.
Juergen Klopp’s side climbed to third in the table on 10 points from four games. Villa have six points.
In the nights other fixture, French forward Odsonne Edouard struck twice and Eberechi Eze netted from a fine solo effort in an action-packed second half to power Crystal Palace to a 3-2 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The win provisionally lifted Palace to seventh in the table on seven points from four games, while Wolves remained in 15th place on three points heading into the international break.
On Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion’s teenage striker Evan Ferguson grabbed a hat-trick to secure a 3-1 win over lacklustre visitors Newcastle United.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2023