Matheus Cunha delivered a moment of late magic as Manchester United stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal in a pulsating five-goal encounter at the Emirates Stadium. The dramatic victory not only handed the Gunners their first home defeat of the season but also tightened the title race, with Arsenal’s lead cut to just four points after wins for Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Arsenal burst out of the blocks and looked in complete control during the opening stages. Their early dominance was rewarded in the 29th minute when United defender Lisandro Martínez inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving the hosts a deserved lead.
But the match turned on a costly mistake. A loose pass from Martin Zubimendi gifted Manchester United a lifeline, allowing Bryan Mbeumo to race through on goal. The forward showed impressive composure, rounding David Raya before slotting into an empty net to level the scores.
United carried that momentum into the second half and shocked the Emirates just five minutes after the restart. Patrick Dorgu produced a sensational strike, thundering a shot off the underside of the crossbar to put the visitors ahead.
In response, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta rolled the dice, making a bold quadruple substitution by introducing Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Ben White in a bid to spark a comeback. The changes appeared to pay off when Merino bundled the ball home from a corner in the 84th minute, seemingly rescuing a point for the home side.
However, the final twist was still to come. Just three minutes later, substitute Matheus Cunha collected a pass from Kobbie Mainoo and unleashed a stunning curling effort from 25 yards that nestled into the bottom corner, silencing the Emirates and sealing a memorable win.
The victory propels Manchester United into fourth place, while Arsenal are left to reflect on a dramatic night that could prove significant in the title race.
