Effective United end Arsenal's perfect start to the season

Antony slots past Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal on Sunday to open his accounts for Manchester United. It ended 3-1. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Manchester United proved they’re not a spent force with an efficient display against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

United have now won four on the bounce after losing their opening two games including a scandalous 4-0 reverse at the Brentford Community Stadium. Arsenal had won their opening five games and was looking to make it six at Old Trafford.

Erik Ten Hag stuck to his guns and kept Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro on the bench but there was a place in the starting line up for new signing Antony and it was the Brazilian that opened the scoring on Sunday.

Arsenal welcomed Alex Zinchenko back to the starting line up and the trio of Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale shook off slight knocks to be fit for the game. United settled in quickly but Arsenal soon took on the ascendancy.

Arsenal had the ball in the back of the net early on when Gabriel Martinelli raced in on goal and beat David De Gea with a deft finish but referee Paul Tierney and VAR Lee Mason chalked the goal off for an alleged infringement on Eriksen in the build up to the goal.

Against the run of play, United slid in a fine pass to Antony on the right in the Arsenal area and the new boy was wheeling away in celebrations on his debut. Arsenal dominated from there on but couldn’t breach the United defense.

Arsenal got their deserved equalizer on the hour mark; a poorly defended through ball fell to Bukayo Saka and the England forward obliged with his first goal of the season. United sent on Cristiano Ronaldo but it was Arsenal that controlled the game.

Fearing defeat, United pulled the handbrake and Arsenal went all out for it; naivety set in and United capitalized, Bruno Fernandes set up Rashford and it was 2-1. Arteta threw caution into the wind with three substitutes but it was United that scored again with Rashford sliding one into an empty net.

Arsenal remain on top of the log but by a slim one point. Next up for the Gunners is Everton at the Emirates.