Arsenal suffer 3–2 defeat to Manchester United after Cunha’s stunning late goal

Manchester United stun Arsenal at the Emirates with a dramatic late comeback to dent the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes.

Arsenal Premier League title push suffered a major blow after a dramatic 3–2 home defeat to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. The result cut the Gunners’ lead at the top of the table to just four points.

Despite controlling large spells of the contest, Mikel Arteta’s side were undone by costly errors and moments of individual brilliance from United, who secured a famous comeback win under interim manager Michael Carrick in front of 60,296 fans.

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The loss marked Arsenal’s first home league defeat of the season and their first domestic loss since mid-campaign turbulence began.

Arsenal began on the front foot, dominating possession and pinning United deep during the opening half-hour. Bukayo Saka drove the tempo, repeatedly troubling the visitors and combining well with Martin Ødegaard.

The breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute when Ødegaard’s sliced volley from a Saka pass deflected off Lisandro Martínez and into the net under pressure from Jurrien Timber, handing Arsenal a deserved 1–0 lead.

However, warning signs followed almost immediately as Bruno Fernandes twice went close, hinting at United’s threat on transition.

United drew level in the 37th minute after a costly mistake from Martin Zubimendi. A loose backpass allowed Bryan Mbeumo to intercept, round David Raya, and roll the ball into an empty net to make it 1–1.

The goal shifted momentum sharply, with Arsenal’s earlier composure replaced by visible anxiety as United grew in confidence.

Just five minutes into the second half, United took the lead in spectacular fashion. Patrick Dorgu unleashed a fierce 20-yard half-volley that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar after quick exchanges with Fernandes.

VAR checked the goal for a possible handball, but the strike stood, leaving Raya rooted and Arsenal furious at the decision.

Late Arsenal Rally Falls Short

Arteta reacted with a quadruple substitution on the hour mark, introducing Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze, and Mikel Merino to spark a response.

The pressure finally paid off in the 84th minute, when Merino poked home from close range after a goalmouth scramble from a Saka corner, restoring parity at 2-2 and reigniting stadium confidence.

The joy was short-lived. In the 87th minute, substitute Matheus Cunha produced the decisive moment, curling a sublime long-range effort beyond Raya and inside the bottom corner.

The Brazilian’s strike silenced the Emirates and sealed a stunning 3–2 victory for Manchester United, who held firm through seven minutes of added time despite late Arsenal pressure and penalty appeals.

Arteta admitted Arsenal lost control after a strong start:

“We were in total control for the first 30 minutes, but after that we gave the ball away unnecessarily. We gave them a goal that was painful, and then they scored two incredible strikes.” 

What the Result Means for the Title Race

The defeat leaves Arsenal on 50 points, with Manchester City and Aston Villa closing the gap. United climb into fourth place, boosting their top-four ambitions after back-to-back wins over elite opposition.

For Arsenal, the Manchester United defeat exposes defensive fragility and fine margins in a tight title race. Arteta’s side must now regroup quickly to avoid further slip-ups in the run-in.

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