Fernandes penalty miss costly as Xhaka screamer finishes off disjointed United
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and team-mates celebrate scoring a second goal from a penalty during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday April 23, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire.
RALF RANGNICK was so sick of being thrown under the bus by his players before this match he seemed to go to war with his squad to try and get a response. They were much better than in a humiliating defeat at Liverpool on Tuesday night but not nearly good enough for Mikel Arteta's resurgent Arsenal.
United's Champions League hopes are now well and truly in tatters as Rangnick prepares the club for open heart surgery amid the summer arrival of new manager Erik Ten Hag.
Arsenal, meanwhile, look reborn under Arteta and followed up their midweek win at Chelsea with another three points to ensure they are the only genuine challengers to Tottenham in the race for a top four finish.
Arsenal continued where they finished off at Chelsea by starting on the front foot from the very off and were ahead inside two minutes when left-back Nuno Tavares turned in at a post after David de Gea had saved superbly from Bukayo Saka.
United, with Cristiano Ronaldo restored to the side after his family tragedy, responded well and were possibly on top when Saka scored from the penalty spot after he was bundled over by Alex Telles in the 32nd minute.
Ronaldo deservedly pulled one back with a neat finish from an inch-perfect Nemanja Matic pass just two minutes later.
United were better after the break too, but the game turned when Bruno Fernandes struck a badly taken penalty against a post. Surely Ronaldo should have taken it?
Aaron Ramsdale was resolute in goal too as Dalot hit the woodwork twice for United, but the goal that ultimately settled the match was worthy of winning any game.
It came with 20 minutes to go from the boot of much-maligned midfielder Granit Xhaka – a 25-yard thunderbolt which left the otherwise impressive de Gea without a chance.
Ramsdale 7, Cedric 5 (Tomiyasu 90), White 6, Gabriel 6, Tavares 6, Elneny 6, Xhaka 7, Saka 8 (Holding 74), Odegaard 8, Smith Rowe 5 (Martinelli 64), Nketiah 6.
Leno, Lacazette, Pepe, Lokonga, Azeez, Swanson.
De Gea 7, Dalot 7, Lindelof 5, Varane 5, Telles 5, Matic 7 (Rashford 77), McTominay 6, Sancho 6, Fernandes 5 (Mata 84), Elanga 6 (Lingard 77), Ronaldo 6.
Henderson, Bailly, Jones, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Garnacho.
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