Premier League: Arsenal defeats Manchester United 3-1, putting the Red Devils out of contention for a top-four finish

Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka, and Granit Xhaka scored in a 3-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday, restoring Arsenal’s chances of playing in the Champions League next season.

Following some bad defense by the visitors at The Emirates, Arsenal were rewarded for their blistering early speed when Tavares tapped home in the third minute after United goalkeeper David de Gea pushed away a curling effort by Saka. After a foul on the winger in the build-up to a goal by Eddie Nketiah that went in but was ruled out as offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), Saka increased the Gunners’ lead from the penalty spot.

United’s lethargic play masked brief moments of menace and served as a reminder of the task ahead of incoming manager Erik ten Hag, albeit the visitors got one back when Cristiano Ronaldo swept in a cross from Nemanja Matic.

After the death of one of his newborn twin babies, the Portuguese forward’s 100th Premier League goal came after a painful week for him. Arsenal fans greeted the United number seven with a long round of applause in the seventh minute, similar to what Liverpool fans did in their midweek match, in which Liverpool won 4-0.

After a poor penalty kick following Tavares’ handball, United improved in the second half, but their difficulties worsened as captain Bruno Fernandes hit the post with a woeful effort from the spot, before a 70th-minute thunderbolt from Xhaka sealed the game for the Gunners.

On a terrible day for United, who also had a Cristiano Ronaldo strike ruled out for offside, Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale made a fantastic stop to send Diogo Dalot’s shot against the post for the second time in the game. Arsenal moved into fourth place with 60 points, three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who face Brentford later on Saturday. United are in sixth place, and interim manager Ralf Rangnick has a tough task ahead of him in his final four games.