ARSENAL ENDED MANCHESTER United’s unbeaten run and boosted their Champions League hopes in the process as Arsene Wenger finally got the better of Jose Mourinho in a 2-0 win.
Wenger had failed to win any of the previous 14 competitive clashes between the two rivals, with his only victory coming in the 2015 Community Shield when Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea.
The Gunners boss brought an end to that frustrating streak at just the right time as goals from Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck improved Arsenal’s chances of salvaging a troubled season by finishing in the top four.
Sixth-placed Arsenal are now six points behind Manchester City in fourth, although they have four games to play while Pep Guardiola’s side have only three.
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It ended United’s run of 25 games unbeaten in the Premier League and they remain in fifth, four points behind City with three games left.
They can still qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League and Mourinho seemed to prioritise their upcoming semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo by fielding a much-changed side in north London.
Arsenal played with more hunger than United but even so, they still needed a stroke of luck to open the scoring in the 54th minute.
Xhaka blasted a long-range strike that slammed into the back of United midfielder Ander Herrera, looping high in the air before dropping into the net just out of the reach of goalkeeper David de Gea.
If that was a fortuitous way to take the lead, Arsenal had no need to apologise for their superb second goal three minutes later.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whipped over a teasing cross and when United defender Chris Smalling misjudged the flight of the ball, former United forward Welbeck was perfectly placed to bury his header past De Gea for just his second league goal this season.
Wenger gets first win over Mourinho as Arsenal land a serious top four blow
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
ARSENAL ENDED MANCHESTER United’s unbeaten run and boosted their Champions League hopes in the process as Arsene Wenger finally got the better of Jose Mourinho in a 2-0 win.
Wenger had failed to win any of the previous 14 competitive clashes between the two rivals, with his only victory coming in the 2015 Community Shield when Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea.
The Gunners boss brought an end to that frustrating streak at just the right time as goals from Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck improved Arsenal’s chances of salvaging a troubled season by finishing in the top four.
Sixth-placed Arsenal are now six points behind Manchester City in fourth, although they have four games to play while Pep Guardiola’s side have only three.
It ended United’s run of 25 games unbeaten in the Premier League and they remain in fifth, four points behind City with three games left.
They can still qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League and Mourinho seemed to prioritise their upcoming semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo by fielding a much-changed side in north London.
Arsenal played with more hunger than United but even so, they still needed a stroke of luck to open the scoring in the 54th minute.
Xhaka blasted a long-range strike that slammed into the back of United midfielder Ander Herrera, looping high in the air before dropping into the net just out of the reach of goalkeeper David de Gea.
If that was a fortuitous way to take the lead, Arsenal had no need to apologise for their superb second goal three minutes later.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whipped over a teasing cross and when United defender Chris Smalling misjudged the flight of the ball, former United forward Welbeck was perfectly placed to bury his header past De Gea for just his second league goal this season.
- © AFP 2017
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