Man Utd feasted on Arsenal's anxiety - they can't let the pressure derail their title push

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The problem is that Arsenal fans have seen this story before. And maybe that explains why the whole of the Emirates - the fans and the players - felt so painfully nervous as their title challenge took a serious blow after this five-goal thriller.

You have to give huge credit to Manchester United because, in the space of eight days, Michael Carrick’s new regime has beaten the best two teams in the country. Manchester City last week and now Arsenal .

But the bigger concern for Arsenal must be that one terrible mistake - Martin Zubimendi’s kamikaze back pass to let in Bryan Mbeumo for the equaliser - should turn the whole place into a nervous wreck.

Arsenal started the weekend seven points clear but City and Aston Villa both winning reduced the gap to four and it felt as if Mikel Arteta’s men could not handle the pressure. They are still four clear at the top but they look anything but dead certs.

They buckled in the face of a sensational United performance when Carrick outwitted Arteta as Matheus Cunha’s sensational late winner capped a much deserved and brilliant away victory.

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The Gunners have not won the title for 22 years - and it shows. The pressure and expectation levels of being anointed champions-elect in January looks to be weighing heavily on their shoulders.

Arsenal have blown leads at the top in two of the last three title races and you can sense the anxiety among the fans that it could be about to happen again. Arsenal have not won in their last three Premier League games.

United could sense the anxiety - and they feasted on it. If Arsenal cannot handle it in January then you dread to think what it could be like in April and May.

A week on from their demolition derby against City, United were terrific again. Well organised, disciplined and defiant. Carrick is a rookie manager and it is early days, but the interim is putting on one hell of an audition.

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Arsenal took a 29th minute lead when Piero Hincapie’s cross was not cleared, Bukayo Saka produced a lovely piece of skill to bring the ball down and Martin Odegaard fired towards goal.

Jurrien Timber tussled with Lisandro Martinez and the United defender was credited with an own goal when it looked like the Arsenal full back’s shot was decisive.

But rather than build on that lead, Arsenal lost their nerve. You have to question their mentality. They got sloppy and made mistakes. Mbeumo wasted an opening while Bruno Fernandes slashed another one wide.

They need not have worried. Zubimendi’s shocking back pass was an open invitation for Mbeumo who duly duly rounded Arsenal keeper David Raya and slotted into the net.

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It got even worse five minutes after the restart. Fernandes’ pass found Patrick Dorgu who then slashed home a sensational shot which crashed in off the underside of the bar. Dorgu has gone from United flop to playing like Cafu.

Arsenal looked sluggish and out of ideas. Arteta had started with Gabriel Jesus up front in place of Viktor Gyokeres but that did not work and Arsenal went through a raft of substitutions. Four In one go before the hour mark felt like a panic move.

Arsenal did get themselves level. Saka’s corner caused chaos in the box, United keeper Senne Lammens made a poor punch and, amid the crowd of bodies, substitute Mikel Merino forced home an 84th minute equaliser.

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Surely Arsenal had salvaged a point. That was their 26th set-piece goal in all competitions. But the drama had not finished. And Carrick ended up outwitting Arteta with the best sub of all.

United supersub Cunha stormed forward, was given too much space and curled a stunning shot into the far corner. Incredibly, that was the first time Arsenal had conceded three goals in a Premier League game since a 4-3 win at Luton in December 2023.

The Premier League’s meanest defence had been rattled and undone and Arsenal’s midfield and forwards did not have the answers either.