After breaking their 1-0 losing streak at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Sunday, Arsenal maintained their hopes of winning the Premier League title, regaining the top spot and extending the championship race to the last weekend.
On the 20th minute, Arsenal defeated United away for just the second time in their previous 17 games, thanks to a goal from Leandro Trossard, which gave them a one-point lead at the top.
Manchester City still holds the power to decide who wins the championship because they have two games remaining to Arsenal’s one.
Nonetheless, in front of their challenging trip to Tottenham on Tuesday, the Gunners continued to put pressure on Pep Guardiola’s team.
“Our history wasn’t very optimistic (here) but we found a way to win it and that says a lot about how much the team wants it,” stated Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal.
“We want to knock that door and open that box of dreams to have in front of our people the opportunity to win the Premier League.”
On the last Sunday of the season, Arsenal will play Everton while City will play West Ham.
United’s chances of participating in Europe the next season were further damaged by the defeat.
Though they were more resilient than in their crushing 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday, Erik ten Hag’s team has now only triumphed once in their last eight Premier League games.
United is still in ninth place in the standings, three points behind Chelsea and Newcastle, whom they play on Wednesday.
Arsenal has been playing brilliantly in 2024 to keep themselves in the running for their first league championship in 20 years.
Since the start of the season, Arteta’s team has won 15 and drawn 1 of their 17 league games.
However, Arsenal was far from playing at their peak as the predicted assault by an injured United never materialized in the extremely oppressive heat in the northwest of England.
Ten Hag, the manager of United, was under more pressure following the way United lost at Palace.
A long list of absences, including captain Bruno Fernandes, and a bench crowded with youth once again limited the Dutchman’s options.
‘Hands tied behind the back’
Ten Hag compared United’s injury crisis to “trying to swim with your hands tied behind your back.”
“The supporters are behind us, as you can see. They quarreled with us. We returned the favor today, but that ought to be the norm in every game.
“You see even when we miss seven starting players we are competitive with one of the best teams in the league.”
But Ten Hag’s choice to keep Casemiro as a temporary center back following his appalling performance against Palace would serve as yet another stick to beat the struggling coach.
Casemiro was responsible for the goal after United had held the free-scoring visitors at bay for the first twenty minutes.
After struggling to play Kai Havertz onside following a United goal-kick, the 32-year-old managed to sneak in behind Casemiro and tap in the German’s cross with a steal.
Rather than at Wembley, Jim Ratcliffe, United’s new co-owner, was at Old Trafford to watch the club’s women win their first major prize in the FA Cup final.
Ratcliffe’s task ahead of him has been exposed in recent weeks, and when the sun turned into a thunderstorm late in the afternoon, he witnessed firsthand the renovations that Old Trafford also needs. Rain is known to leak through roofs.
Arsenal managed to hold on for a sixth clean sheet in their past seven away league games, despite Alejandro Garnacho being United’s lone bright spot.
A club record of 27 victories in a Premier League season was also set with the Gunners victory.
However, should City continue their vicious streak, even it might not be sufficient.
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