Two late, late goals from Delcan Rice and Gabriel Jesus sealed an joyous last-gasp victory for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal on a dramatic afternoon in North London.
Just as a lively game appeared to be heading for a draw, Arsenal showed tremendous reserves of character to dig deep and beat United. First £105m Rice fired home to put the home side 2-1 ahead in the 96th minute, prior to substitute Gabriel Jesus slotting home a third in front of a delirious crowd on Sunday afternoon in North London.
Earlier, during a fiesty and frenetic opening, Kai Havertz fluffed his lines when miskicking from six yards out with the goal at his mercy, prior to Declan Rice heading over shortly afterwards, as the Gunners chased an opener in the glorious September sunshine.
With Thomas Partey out for days, weeks, or months depending on who you talk to, Gabriel slotted back into the Gunners backline, to resume his doughty partnership with William Saliba that powered the team to second place last term. With the Ghana international missing Ben White returned to right-back and Olexsandr Zinchenko slipped in seamlessly into the spot vacated by Partey.
While the four defenders immediately gave Arsenal an air of solidity, somewhat missing in red and white during this embryonic season so far, they could do nothing when Marcus Rashford cut inside to fire past a grasping Aaron Ramsdale to put United 1-0 up on 27 minutes.However, with Arsenal looking more balanced with a midfielder triumvirate of Havertz, Rice and Odegaard, the home side swept forward from the restart. Gabi Martinelli racing into the box, fed his captain, who steered a well-crafted drive far beyond Onana to make the score 1-1 after a breathless 60 sixty seconds of action.
Arsenal had seen a penalty overturned by the VAR after referee Anthony Taylor originally ruled Havertz had been fouled - prior to missing a glorious late opportunity when Bukayo Saka shot straight at Onana., United then thought they had scored a late winner.
Yet, VAR also ruled that one out In a chaotic finale to an entertaining game, United first thought they had snatched three points only to see Alejandro Garnacho's 88th-minute finish ruled out for offside, by the video assistant referee with the score 1-1.
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And as the teams looked set to share a point each, up stepped record buy Rice, followed by Jesus to seal a dramatic victory and unleash scenes of unbridled joy in North London.
Rice thoroughly deserved his goal after a superb individual display that underlined just why Arteta made his £105m signing his main summer priority.
It was then Jesus turn to show the value he brings to the Gunners when, with United chasing an equaliser after being stunned by Rice's goal, the former Manchester City striker drove forward run before slotting past Onana, to send the Emirates into delirium.
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