Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal: Rashford heroics earn the win

The 18-year-old Manchester United fan scored another brace and was named Man of the Match on his Premier League debut.

Manchester United defied the odds to beat title-chasing Arsenal 3-2 with an injury-hit squad that was composed largely of academy graduates and fringe players.

Marcus Rashford, who hit a double on his full debut for United against FC Midtjylland, scored another two goals against Arsenal and added an assist for the third goal.

It was, all things considered, an outstanding performance from United. Even Louis van Gaal, buoyed by his team’s energetic display, stepped down from the bench and ensured social media platforms had enough content to last a lifetime with his antics in front of fourth official Mike Dean.

United’s experienced players – Michael Carrick, Daley Blind, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera – and inexperienced players – Rashford, Guillermo Varela and Jesse Lingard – deserve enormous credit for what was perhaps the best performance of the season.

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Rashford’s first real involvement in the game came when he burst past Gabriel and Hector Bellerin to earn a free-kick just on the edge of the penalty area. Memphis subsequently fired a low effort towards goal that was well saved by Petr Cech.

Moments later, Herrera won the ball back in midfield, played a neat one-two with Mata and spread the ball out wide to Varela. The Uruguayan whipped in a brilliant cross that was only half cleared by Gabriel, and Rashford latched on to the ball to fire it high into the net.

Not long after that goal, Mata, Varela and Lingard combined on the right flank to create United’s second, with the latter dinking a cross into the box for Rashford to head beyond Cech.

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Arsenal, however, halved the deficit when Mesut Ozil delivered a typically excellent free-kick that Danny Welbeck headed into the net. It was poor defending from United, with Marcos Rojo and Morgan Schneiderlin both guilty of not reaching the ball before Welbeck.

In a crazy first half, United – a team of youngsters and fringe players – managed to go toe-to-toe with arguably the best side in the league.

After the break, Arsenal piled on the pressure. Much of the game was played inside United’s half of the pitch, even though De Gea wasn’t tested.

United, however, extended their lead when Mata played a cute pass down the channel for Rashford. The youngster remained composed and fed a ball to Herrera on the edge of the box, and the Spaniard’s deflected shot flew into the net to make the game 3-1.

The score changed again when Ozil, following poor United defending, bundled in a shot from inside the penalty area. At that point it seemed inevitable that Arsenal would go on to grab an equaliser and, possibly, a winner.

United’s injury troubles continued when Rashford and Rojo went off inured. Once all three substitutions were made, United ended the game with five academy players on the pitch.

Arsenal, though, never mounted a comeback. The last 10 minutes passed by without too much in the way of action. United looked comfortable and held on for the win.

Next: Manchester United vs. Arsenal: Key Battles on the Pitch

With Manchester City not playing in the Premier League this weekend due to their involvement in the Capital One Cup, United were able to close the gap to the top four to just three points. A finish in the Champions League places still looks out of reach, but the win vs. Arsenal – and the manner of it – at least offers a glimmer of hope.