For the second season running, Arsenal claimed a dramatic 3-1 victory over Manchester United as Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus both scored in stoppage time at Emirates Stadium.
With the score levels at 1-1 in the sixth minute of time added on and the match seemingly heading for a draw, Rice, the £105million summer signing from West Ham United, controlled a corner at the back of the area before swivelling to put a fierce deflected shot past Andre Onana in the Man Utd goal.
It emulated Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time winner in this fixture last year, except this one was the latest winning goal in this fixture at 95 minutes and 43 seconds.
The scoring was not over as, with Man Utd chasing an equaliser, Arsenal broke and Fabio Vieira set up fellow substitute Gabriel Jesus to score his first goal against the Red Devils.
It had been a match that ebbed and flowed between the two heavyweights.
Kai Havertz had spurned a great chance to open his Arsenal account in the 13th minute, when a defensive mix-up put the ball at his feet, eight metres out, but the summer signing from Chelsea miskicked badly.
As he did in this fixture last season, Marcus Rashford put United in front after 27 minutes with their first shot. Christian Eriksen intercepted a Havertz pass in his own half and advanced before threading a great through-ball to Rashford, who cut in from the left to beat Aaron Ramsdale at his far post with a brilliant curling strike.
It was Rashford’s sixth goal against the Gunners and he scored for the third fixture in a row against them, matching a feat only Robin van Persie had done for United.
Arsenal had dominated proceedings until that point and responded less than two minutes later, with a sweeping move that ended with Martin Odegaard firing the ball home from the edge of the area.
After half-time, Man Utd had a couple of chances to retake the lead in the 54th minute, but Ramsdale first denied Anthony Martial and Rashford’s follow-up was blocked.
Arsenal were awarded a penalty on the hour when Anthony Taylor adjudged Aaron Wan-Bissaka to have fouled Havertz, but the referee overturned his decision after a VAR review.
Gabriel Martinelli came close to putting Arsenal ahead with a curling shot before Erik ten Hag brought on Rasmus Hojlund for his Man Utd debut.
The Danish striker immediately provided United with an outlet up front but Arsenal had the next chance, but Bukayo Saka shot straight at Onana from seven yards.
United thought they had claimed a late winner when they broke on 88 minutes and substitute Alejandro Garnacho was put through and scored but the goal was overturned for a narrow offside.
The drama was to come much later, as it did last season when Nketiah struck in stoppage time to give Arsenal a 3-2 win.
The goals from Rice and Jesus send Arsenal to fifth place with 10 points. Man Utd are 11th with six points.
