Old rivals roll back the years for classic match

A match that went to the limits, and right up to the last seconds and even centimetres, that could also be the one that proves Arsenal can really go the distance more than any other.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

Arsenal 3

Nketiah (24, 90), Saka (53)

Manchester United 2

Rashford (17), Martínez (59)

There are moments in every such campaign when so much comes together, when performance aligns with belief and timing to foster a sense of destiny about a team. Manchester United, who were such creditable parties to a vintage match that more than revitalised a classic fixture, have seen enough of them. They will have surely seen it in Eddie Nketiah's improvised and oh so important strike. The agonising wait for the offside call only seemed to aid the moment, as everyone at Arsenal must now think they can end a wait of 19 years.

There is still a long way to go in this season, and this was actually only the halfway point of Arsenal's league campaign, but what was so crucial was how that momentum was maintained; how they went the distance to show they can keep going the distance. 

The 2-2 draw that this match was set to be was one of those that would have reflected well on two burgeoning sides. Arsenal would have been able to take heart from it - especially in coming from behind - but they would have known they left something out there. It could have been all the more costly given Manchester City had used their past two games to cut the gap to two points, offering a sense that the numbers will work for the champions and that slow but inevitable process of overtaking Mikel Arteta's side was in motion. No more.

Arsenal are setting too impressive a pace. They are propelling themselves further, in terms of emotion and impressive play.