28th February, 2016
Teenager Marcus Rashford scored twice and set up the third as Manchester United derailed Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge at Old Trafford.
Rashford, who scored twice on his debut against FC Midtjylland on Thursday, steered in a loose ball for the opener then headed in three minutes later.
Danny Welbeck nodded Arsenal back into the game, but Rashford picked out Ander Herrera whose shot was deflected in.
Mesut Ozil’s volley gave third-placed Arsenal hope, but United held on.
Arsenal – who have not won the title since 2004 – remain in third place, five points adrift of leaders Leicester having now played the same number of matches.
Against an under-strength and youthful home side, the Gunners blew another opportunity to demonstrate their title credentials.
The Red Devils moved back into fifth position with their first win in three league games.
With leaders Leicester snatching a late win on Saturday, and second-placed Tottenham fighting back against Swansea, Arsene Wenger’s side lost valuable ground on their title rivals.
And it ended a miserable week for the Frenchman, who saw his side falter in three competitions.
Wenger watched his team labour to an FA Cup draw against Championship side Hull, then put themselves on the brink of a Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona.
“This is a fight where you keep going even when disappointment is there. Let’s show we are prepared for the fight,” he said.
Rashford makes his Marc again…
Barely anyone outside Old Trafford had heard of Marcus Rashford less than week ago – now the teenage United striker is a household name across the country.
Two goals on his senior debut in the Europa League against Midtjylland catapulted him into the national spotlight.
But, many asked, how would he fare against a league title-chasing side in the heat of a battle between two fierce rivals? Coolly, calmly and clinically, as it turned out.
Rashford showed signs of his youthful exuberance in the early stages, darting inside a pair of Arsenal defenders from the left touchline before being hauled down on the edge of the penalty area.
The opportunity of that set-piece was not taken by the Red Devils, but it mattered little as Rashford soon put them into a two-goal lead.
The young Mancunian pounced on a poor clearance by Arsenal centre-back Gabriel to slot in his first Premier League goal, then waltzed into space to powerfully head in Jesse Lingard’s floated cross.
But it was not just his finishing that caught the eye. Rashford showed great awareness and composure to pick out the run of Herrera, whose 20-yard shot took a wicked deflection off Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.
No wonder he was given a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd when he was replaced in the 80th minute.