Arsenal hold nerve and weather storm after Trossard pounces

The television cut-aways to the enclosure housing the Arsenal fans perfectly captured the anxiety. It was not supposed to be like this, not against this Manchester United. But the lesser spotted acceptable version of Erik ten Hag's team was on show, fighting for the badge, and Arsenal were made to suffer.

- David Hytner

Manchester Utd      0

Arsenal                    1

Leandro Trossard scored their goal midway through the first half after a United defensive malfunction - of course it was - but the advantage was slender and everyone knew, most of all Mikel Arteta, that it could take only one moment to rub out.

With five minutes to go, there was thunder and lightning. Very, very frightening. Arsenal had not exactly made a habit of winning here in recent years, doing so only once in their previous 16 Premier League visits. They desperately needed the points, to answer Manchester City's victory at Fulham on Saturday, to jump back above them at the top of the table, to make sure that their challenge would go to the final day.

Arsenal got the job done, relief fusing with the euphoria when it was all over. The downpour at the very end was almost biblical, the hailstones pelting down too, the notorious Old Trafford roof getting a thorough examination and it certainly made for a vivid backdrop when Arteta and his players celebrated in front of the travelling fans.

Arsenal were well below their best in creative terms; their star players were defenders, namely Ben White and William Saliba. The result was the only thing that mattered. Does anyone think that City will slip up; they play their game in hand at Tottenham, of all places, tomorrow night? City have never done so under Pep Guardiola when the title has been within their grasp. For Arsenal, it remains about believing.