Marcus Rashford scored twice after new-signing Antony had given Manchester United the lead, to help the Red Devils beat rivals Arsenal 3-1 at Old Trafford on August 4. The Gunners succumbed to their first defeat of the season as a result.
A resurgent Manchester United faced perfect Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday night, knowing a win would take them within three points of the Gunners despite their poor start to the season. There was still no place for Casemiro in the squad, but Erik ten Hag handed Antony his debut for the Red Devils, the winger picked in the line-up alongside new signings Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, and Christian Eriksen.
For Arsenal, Albert Sambi Lokonga partnered Granit Xhaka in the centre of the pitch in the only notable change of the evening.
Antony showed glimpses of his talent from the get-go, drawing defenders in with his nimble footwork shortly after kick-off before laying the ball for Diogo Dalot, whose cross was volleyed into the side-netting by Eriksen.
Arsenal had the ball in the net in the 12th minute, Gabriel Martinelli the would-be scorer if only the goal had been allowed to stand; the referee pulled it back for Martin Odegaard’s foul on Eriksen in the build-up, and the scores remained 0-0.
United took the lead in the 35th minute. Drawing Arsenal’s press in, the Red Devils broke forward quickly with Bruno Fernandes, who laid the pass to Jadon Sancho just before being tripped. The Englishman passed the ball into Marcus Rashford, who, in turn, threaded it through between two defenders for Antony in space, and the Brazilian curled it around Ramsdale for a goal on his debut.
Arsenal probed for the equalizer that came after they had won the ball back high inside the United half on the stroke of the hour. Odegaard, taking possession, played the pass through to Gabriel Jesus, but the Brazilian was blocked in his stride.
The loose ball fell to Bukayo Saka, and the youngster tapped it into an empty net to make it 1-1.
Parity lasted six minutes. Fernandes, from the centre circle, played superb through ball to Rashford, which the England international confidently put past Ramsdale into the corner of the net after running in behind the defence.
Rashford had his second of the night not long after. Arsenal’s backline caught out again, Eriksen exploited the space in behind before squaring the ball to the forward for a simple tap-in.
A fourth successive win it was for the Red Devils, who are now just three points behind Arsenal despite starting the season with two defeats.
