LONDON: Declan Rice repaid a significant chunk of his £105m transfer fee by scoring in the sixth minute of stoppage time to launch Arsenal towards a 3-1 victory over Manchester United.

Rice struck from close range and then Gabriel Jesus added to United’s pain with a third goal to clinch a well-deserved victory. United were left with a host of problems to resolve as they fell six points adrift of Premier League leaders and neighbours City.

Victory was also both a relief and vindication for Kai Havertz. The £65m signing had missed an early open goal, was at fault before United scored and was later denied a penalty which could have put the Gunners’ ahead.

The early focus of United’s travelling fans was off the pitch as they repeated their voluble protests against the Glazer family. United’s unpopular American owners are reported to have scrapped plans to sell the club. Neither British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani have matched the Glazers’£7bn valuation.

Arsenal pursued all three points from the kickoff. They dominated possession an should have taken the lead in the 12th minute.

Unfortunately Havertz, with the goal at his mercy, missed his kick from eight metres. He was at fault again when United took the lead against the run of play. Havertz misplaced a pass in midfield and United broke forward to go ahead through Marcus Rashford.

Martin Odegaard came to Havertz’s rescue only 35 seconds later. Arsenal’s captain equalised from Gabriel Martinelli’s left-wing cross and the Gunners regained control.

Havertz’s luckless afternoon went from bad to worse on the hour. He burst through the United defence and fell under pressure from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Casemiro. Referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty and then cancelled it after being sent for a video review.

The drama increased in stoppage time. First United substitute Alejandro Garnacho was denied a goal by VAR for offside then Arsenal raced back into attack then Rice struck his first Arsenal goal before Jesus added another in the 11th minute of stoppage time.

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