ARSENAL are in jubilant mood after smashing three past Manchester United in the huge top-four decider at the Emirates.
Goals from Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka put downtrodden United to the sword to all-but knock them out of the Champions League race.
At the same time, the Gunners are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus this summer according to reports.
The Brazilian is being lined up as a replacement for out-of-contract strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.
Meanwhile, former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has urged his old side to go big for West Ham’s Declan Rice.
Elsewhere, Alvaro Morata has hinted that he could be open for a move in the transfer window.
And we will have all the build-up for Arsenal’s crucial top four clash against Manchester United.
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the Emirates in our live blog…
Xhaka on fans
Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka stated he wants to have a “better relationship” with the fans.
Xhaka said: “I can’t pretend that my relationship with the fans will ever be the same, because that moment will always be in my heart.
“I would like us to have a better relationship. I would like us to understand each other better”
Rangnick criticises VAR
Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick criticised VAR after the loss to Arsenal.
Rangnick told BT Sport: “We showed an improved performance, but in the end, it’s a disappointing result.
“We bounced back well from the early goal and had numerous chances to score more goals. The only weak side of our performance was that we didn’t defend well inside and around [the] box.
“For me there were also three unlucky VAR decisions. The third goal of Arsenal was clearly offside, David [de Gea] said to me he couldn’t see the ball.
“The second goal of Cristiano was definitely not offside. There was another handball decision in the first half. We were not happy with those VAR decisions, but it was an improved performance”
Xhaka reacts on Arsenal win
Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka stated he “likes” to score against Manchester United after his goal at the Emirates.
Xhaka told BT Sport: “I’m very happy I helped the team with the goal. It’s a long time since I scored.
“It’s always good to score at home with the fans. With the family I had here today as well. But the most important thing is the points.
“I like to score against United. To win 3-1 against United is very important. It is not the first time we score and concede straight away, we did it twice against Chelsea.
“We have to be more clever and strong mentally. They missed a penalty which helped us a lot, and after 3-1 the game was finished”
Arteta on Tavares
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta discussed Nuno Tavares’ performance against Manchester Unite, which saw him scoring a goal.
Arteta said: “We have to help him.
“He needs to go through these experiences to understand what triggers these moments.
“The bill you have to pay with these players is they’ve never experienced this”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Rangnick on top four
Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick claims the “top four is gone” after the defeat to Arsenal.
Rangnick told BT Sport: “It would have helped us a lot if [the missed penalty] was the equaliser and would have changed the whole game.
“But we didn’t, we hit the post, we hit the post twice, plus the crossbar. So in the end, very unlucky for us.
“There is nothing about the attitude of the players that we should fault today.”
“Even before this game it was not very likely, but after this result top four is gone, yes”
Arteta on Xhaka
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists Granit Xhaka “deserves” the fans’ adulation he got after scoring against Manchester United.
Arteta said: “I was dreaming of that because he deserves it.
“If any fan would spend two minutes with Granit they would understand the person that he is and how much he loves the club.
“He opened up because he feels the environment is there to protect him. Thank you to the fans for that”
Mikel Arteta reacts
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta claims the battle for fourth place will still be a “rollercoaster” despite the victory over Manchester United.
Arteta told BT Sport: “It’s a big performance in a game that had everything.
“We created chances, we had to suffer, there were moments when we lacked energy and they were on top, we were really efficient in the boxes, we had luck.
“They have exceptional players, and I am so happy to win the game. This [the fight for fourth place] is going to be a rollercoaster. Today it went in our favour”
FT: Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd
Arsenal have moved up to fourth place after beating Manchester United 3-1 at the Emirates.
The Gunners opened the scoring with Nuno Tavares after just three minutes.
The North Londoners doubled their lead with Bukayo Saka from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark.
Cristiano Ronaldo put United back in the game with his 100th Premier League goal soon after but the visitors wasted many chances, including a penalty by Bruno Fernandes.
Granit Xhaka sealed the win for the hosts with an incredible strike from 25 yards on 70 minutes
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd
Arsenal are very close to an important victory over Manchester United in their bid for the top four.
The Gunners scored for a third time with Granit Xhaka’s wondergoal after 70 minutes.
Xhaka beat David de Gea with a fantastic strike from 25 yards out!
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
What a match we are witnessing at the Emirates!
Bruno Fernandes wasted a huge opportunity to equalise as he missed a penalty on 53 minutes!
Fernandes does a little shimmy then sends the ball outside!
Cristiano Ronaldo then sends the ball to the back of the net five minutes later but he’s offside!
Can Arsenal hold on?!
HT: Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
An entertaining first half has come to a close at the Emirates with Arsenal leading 2-1.
Nuno Tavares opened the scoring after just three minutes with Bukayo Saka doubling the lead from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark.
But Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 100th Premier League goal just two minutes later
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
Cristiano just scored his 100th Premier League goal!
A beautiful cross by Nemanja Matic finds Ronaldo in the far post from where he beats Aaron Ramsdale on 33 minutes
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd
Arsenal have doubled their lead with a penalty by Bukayo Saka on 31 minutes.
Alex Telles fouled Saka inside the area and the England international sent David de Gea the other way
Arsenal 1-0 Man Utd
Arsenal lead after just three minutes with Nuno Tavares!
Bukayo Saka curls a shot to the far post and David de Gea saves it brilliantly.
Tavares picks up the ball and sends it to the back of the net as Manchester United’s defence is too slow
Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd
And we’re off!
Referee Craig Pawson has blown his whistle for this major Premier League match with huge top-four implications
Arsenal vs Man Utd subs
Here is who will be on Arsenal and Manchester United’s bench today.
As you can see, Takehiro Tomiyasu is in Mikel Arteta’s subs list:
Arsenal: Leno, Lacazette, Holding, Tomiyasu, Pepe, Lokonga, Martinelli, Azeez, Swanson.
Man Utd: Henderson, Bailly, Jones, Maguire, Mata, Rashford, Lingard, Wan-Bissaka, Garnacho.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Arsenal vs Man Utd XI
Here is how Arsenal and Manchester United will line up today at the Emirates.
And as you can see Cristiano Ronaldo starts just days after the death of his newborn son:
Arsenal: Ramsdale, Cedric , White, Gabriel, Tavares, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Nketiah.
Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles, Matic, McTominay, Sancho, Fernandes, Elanga, Ronaldo
Alvaro Morata statement
Atletico Madrid star Alvaro Morata, who plays on loan at Juventus, has has shared the following message amid reports linking him to Arsenal.
Morata said: “Luckily, my wife and my sons are prepared to think about my happiness.
“The only thing they want is to see me happy. Alice [Morata’s wife] supports me in every decision I’ll make.
“I have good options and as long as I am with them, I could go everywhere, even to the moon”
Rice is right
Former Arsenal player Emmanuel Frimpong has urged the club to go for West Ham star Declan Rice.
Frimpong told SunSport’s Jake Lambourne via BoyleXtra: “I would like to have Declan Rice.
“He’s a very good player, improved a lot and shown a lot of maturity for his age. He’s done really well for West Ham, I’m a huge fan of his.
“A midfield of him and [Thomas] Partey would be a very strong midfield partnership. I’d also like another left-back to compete with [Kieran] Tierney.
“I feel like we’re really struggling in that department at the moment.
“I’d also want us to sign a striker – there aren’t any that come to mind that are realistic signings at the minute, but that’s one position we really need to strengthen”
Major Gabriel Jesus update
Arsenal are in ‘advanced talks’ with Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus ahead of the summer transfer window.
And there are reports suggesting “everything has been agreed” between the Gunners and Jesus!
That is according to Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola, who claimed on his YouTube channel Canal do Nicola that all is needed is an agreement between the North Londoners and City for a deal to be completed.
The striker wants to play for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup later this year and has seen his game time limited under Pep Guardiola, who prefers to play with a false 9
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Pre-match stat attack
Arsenal go into today’s clash against Manchester United with the better of the recent history between the sides, in north London at least.
Mikel Arteta’s side are unbeaten in their last three Premier League home games against the Red Devils.
The Gunners have won two and drawn one of their last three clashes against United at the Emirates.
Avoiding defeat today would take them above Tottenham and into fourth place ahead of Spurs’ clash at Brentford this evening.
Jesus could prefer Europe move
Reports suggest Gabriel Jesus could snub a move to Arsenal in favour of signing for a different team in Europe.
While it’s claimed Jesus is “open” to the idea of joining the Gunners, plenty of other teams have now registered their interest in the 25-year-old.
Barcelona, Juventus and Atletico Madrid are all also eyeing a move for the Manchester City star, according to 90min,
Eddie “considering” Palace offer
Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has reportedly been offered a contract by Crystal Palace.
The 22-year-old is set to leave the Emirates at the end of the season when his current deal expires.
And he is “considering” a proposal from Patrick Vieira’s side, according to The Times.
Palace had two bids rejected for Nketiah back in January, but remain keen on signing the England U21 star.
German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach are also said to have offered Nketiah terms.
Jesus the answer to striker search?
In case you missed it yesterday, Arsenal are said to be keen on a move for Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the 25-year-old is set to leave the Etihad at the end of the current campaign.
And the Athletic report Mikel Arteta is keen on bringing the Brazilian international to London.
Talks between Gunners chiefs and Jesus’ representatives have been ongoing for a number of months.
Jesus himself is also said to be “open” to moving to Arsenal.
Credit: Getty It’s matchday for Arsenal
The Gunners return to action today, looking to build on the impressive 4-2 win over Chelsea in midweek.
Manchester United are the visitors to the Emirates, with the Red Devils coming in off the back of a damaging 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.
It’s also their first game since the announcement of Erik ten Hag as next permanent manager.
A win or draw for the Gunners today would take them back into fourth place, ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Brentford this evening.
Kick off in north London is 12.30pm this afternoon.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
