Arsenal recorded a crucial 3-2 victory over Manchester United on Sunday to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with a game in hand on second-placed Manchester City.
United star Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock after 17 minutes before Eddie Nketiah struck back for the Gunners just seven minutes later. Hale End academy graduate Bukayo Saka gave his side the first lead of the match but it was the Red Devils' turn to quickly equalise through Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez.
Nketiah then secured the north Londoners all three points with a 90th-minute finish, a result that could be huge in Arsenal's quest to win their first league title since 2004. Now, United boss Erik ten Hag has reflected on the match at the Emirates Stadium, claiming that his side defended well whilst barely allowing the home team any 'clean' shots on David De Gea's goal.
READ MORE: What Bukayo Saka did to Luke Shaw after England comments as Arsenal transfers give title boost
Speaking to the press, via Manchester Evening News, the Dutchman said: “I think a lot of games we did very well (defensively), we had a lot of clean sheets. Against Manchester City we defended very well. In general, against Arsenal we defended very well.
“I don’t think they get clean shots, there was one time from a free-kick. The rest were shots from cutbacks, shots from distance, defenders from us in between the ball and the goal."
Ten Hag's comments seem quite unusual considering both of Nketiah's goals were clean strikes inside United's six-yard box, hardly pop-shots from far out. In fact, Arsenal registered 2.9 xG (expected goals), via Understat, compared to the Red Devils' 0.27xG on the day.
This was the second most that Ten Hag's side have allowed in the league this season, with Manchester City registering a marginal increase on this (3.01) during their 6-3 victory back in October 2022. This illustrates quite clearly that the Gunners created a lot more than perhaps the United manager would like to admit and were thoroughly deserving of all three points as well.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal's triple boost confirmed after beating Manchester United and Premier League rule reset
Gabriel Jesus' return in question, Zinchenko stars - Arsenal winners and losers from Man Utd win
Flo Balogun scores, permanent transfer confirmed as Nuno Tavares returns - Arsenal loan latest
Find the footballs on the football.london website to win cash prize, vouchers and TV worth £3,000
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
