Heartbreak for Wenger as United steal victory at the death

With next week’s Europa League semi-final in mind, Wenger gave the youngsters a run out against a full-strength Red Devils side. There was, ultimately, nothing at stake for the Gunners. Should Arsenal win? Sixth. Draw? Sixth. Lose? You guessed it... Sixth.

As memories of crunching Keane-Vieira duels came flooding back to the fans, the game brought a cagey start and neither side managed to assert their control on the tie.

With 16 minutes on the clock, Paul Pogba drew first blood. After Romelu Lukaku clipped a delightful cross for Alexis Sanchez to turn goalwards at the back stick, Hector Bellerin managed to deny his former team-mate a goal with a heroic lunging block. As the ball came crashing back off the post, Pogba found himself in the right place at the right time and coolly volleyed home the opener. 1-0.

Seconds later, Henrikh Mkhitaryan went in search of a swift Gunners reply but saw his dragged effort whistle inches wide. The Armenian, electric on his return to Old Trafford, was then the subject of a dubious penalty appeal. Attempting to weave through three red shirts, he took a rather dramatic and unconvincing tumble before being politely urged to get up by the referee - and not-so-politely by the United back-four.

Headers from Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang and Reiss Nelson near the end of the half failed to challenge De Gea and Arsenal trudged down the tunnel a goal down.

 

29 April 2018

Almost immediately after the break, debutant Dinos Mavropanos signed his name on Lukaku’s ankle with his studs, forcing the Belgian to limp off on his milestone 50th appearance in the famous United jersey.

And things got worse for Mourinho minutes later when Granit Xhaka pick-pocketed Nemanja Matic in his own half and laid on Mkhitaryan to rifle past a flat-footed De Gea. There were muted celebrations from the Armenian who remained respectful against the side that gladly shipped him off in January. 1-1 and the game was well and truly on.

Killing any potential Gunners momentum, there was then a lull in play before the home side staged the game’s grande finale.

Half-chances for Anthony Martial and Antonio Valencia saw United search relentlessly for the winner with ten minutes to go... And they thought they had it when Rashford instinctively bundled in from two yards out.

The eagle-eyed linesman offered Arsenal a lifeline when he ruled the Englishman to have been in an offside position as Marouane Fellaini’s header cannoned off the post and in off his thigh.

On the stroke of the 91st minute, the stands erupted as the home faithful witnessed yet another last gasp Old Trafford winner. This time, Fellaini made sure to punish Arsenal. Never one to cower away from an aerial duel, the Belgian rose the highest and directed an unconventional looping header just inside the right post. A head-in-hands moment for the visitors as United revelled by the corner flag. 2-1. Game over. 

A hard-fought battle ended in Mourinho’s Red Devils dealing one final knockout blow to Wenger's Arsenal side and all but cement their place as the Premier League’s admirable runners-up.

 

29 April 2018