LONDON: Manchester United produced a thrilling recovery to condemn Premier leaders Arsenal to their first defeat of the season. Marcus Rashford created one goal and scored two in a game also marked by a debut goal for debutant Antony.

The duels between United and Arsenal used to be the highlights of the season when Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were in their managerial prime. The fixture lost its lustre after their departures but this season’s clash brought renewed expectation after the teams’ contrasting starts.

United manager Erik ten Hag gave a debut to newly-arrived Antony after the Brazil winger’s £82m transfer from Ajax on deadline day. He lined up in an attacking trio with Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho behind Marcus Rashford with Cristiano Ronaldo again on the substitutes’ bench. Arsenal missed only injured Thomas Partey in midfield.

Antony was lively in the opening exchanges for United whose Christian Eriksen and Sancho both had shots saved by Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale. Yet it was the Gunners who thought they had taken the lead in the 11th minute through Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal celebrations were cut short because Eriksen had been fouled in the build-up by Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal, having soaked up United’s early pressure, continued to play their way into the game with Bukayo Saka lively.

Arsenal claimed a penalty in vain after Saka fell under a challenge from Lisandro Martinez. Manager Mikel Arteta complained long and loud to fourth official Simon Hooper.

Arteta was upset further when United took the lead through Antony. The new boy outwitted Oleksandr Zinchenko before firing past Ramsdale. The goal was the first Arsenal had conceded in the opening half of a match this season. It was Antony’s second of the season after his goal for Ajax in a 6:1 defeat of Groningen in mid-August.

Just before halftime Antony had an over-ambitious lob saved by Ramsdale but Arsenal were probably a little unfortunate to be trailing at the break.

Arsenal dominated the early stages of the second half and equalised deservedly on the hour. Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus created the opening with the inadvertent help of Diogo Dalot for Saka, who is 21 today [MON].

United responded with a perfect display of the fighting spirit demanded by Ten Hag.

Only six more minutes had passed when Bruno Fernandes sent in Rashford to score the first of two quick-fire goals. Then Fernandes and Eriksen created the England striker’s second. This was the first time Rashford has scored twice in the Premier League since December 2020 against Sheffield United.

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