Manchester United 0 1 Arsenal Match Report

The title race will go right to the very final whistle after Leandro Trossard’s first-half strike was enough to grind out another win on our travels.

It’s the first time for 25 years that we have been involved in the title race on the final day of the season.

We completed the league double over Manchester United for the first time since 2006/07 and we’re now back on top of the table, though Manchester City have a game in hand.

It’s also our 27th league win of the campaign, the most we have ever recorded in a 38-game programme.

Next up, Everton at home on the final day, with the championship still up for grabs.

Trossard again

We pinned back the hosts early on, the first three or four minutes were played almost exclusively in the United half, but only had a flicked on Declan Rice corner and tame Bukayo Saka shot to show for it.

At the other end Rasmus Hojlund shot over after Thomas Partey was dispossessed just outside his own box, and Alejandro Garnacho had a shot blocked as our fast start petered out.

But just as the balance of play evened out, we struck the first blow. Kai Havertz was in acres of space, played on by the slowly retreating Casemiro, and was able to pick out the arriving Trossard with a low cross. The in-form Belgian finished first time from close range for his 17th of the season, and our 89th in the Premier League this season – our most prolific campaign in the competition.

Few chances

For a while, it looked as though the goal would give us the lift we needed. Takehiro Tomiyasu had a fierce drive charged down and Ben White blasted over from a narrow angle – both chances came after a storming Rice run into enemy territory.

But in truth the rest of the half was fairly flat, with neither team able to take control, and chances were limited.

The second-half began how the first finished, it was ten minutes after the restart until we had a sight of goal. Rice’s shot from 20 yards was blocked, and Trossard was crowded out when the rebound fell to him.

At the other end Garnacho blazed over when space opened up for him, and then William Saliba made a superbly-timed tackle to deny the Argentine winger as he burst into the box.

Odegaard at last worked Onana. His low shot was safely dealt with though, after being set up by a Havertz flick.

Late chances

Midway through the second half Mikel Arteta sent on Gabriel Martinelli for goalscorer Trossard to try to inject some verve to our attacking play.

The Brazilian brought a smart save from Onana after shifting the ball onto his right foot inside the box, then forced another save after good work on the right.

Declan Rice was the next to test the keeper with a low curler from 20 yards before Saka was forced off late on – replaced by Gabriel Jesus.

The game had started amid summery temperatures, but ended in thunderstorms. Amid the slipping conditions though, we kept our footing – and our nerve – to see out another hugely important win.

What’s next

Our title bid will go to the final game of the season, regardless of what Manchester City do against Tottenham on Tuesday night. We face Everton at home in our last fixture of 2023/24, knowing a win will be enough to become champions for the first time since 2003/04, as long as City drop points in one of their final two fixtures, and we maintain our superior goal difference. The lowest we can now finish is second.