A flip of Jurrien Timber’s head, and perhaps a primary actual twist within the title race. Arsenal’s 2-0 win adopted sufficient twists on the evening itself. From a place at half-time the place it seemed like Liverpool would go 10 factors clear, Mikel Arteta’s aspect have as a substitute minimize that result in seven factors. It seems like the primary time that the leaders have been stripped again in months, whereas Arsenal at the moment are constructing an actual momentum.

They appear to be they’ll begin to fly into a type of lengthy unbeaten runs, even when this victory got here from a few of their earthier qualities. There weren’t fairly the multi-angled assaults of the five-goal wins over Sporting after which West Ham United. Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United wouldn’t enable that, for his or her half. Arsenal as a substitute beat them with what has turn into an actual weapon of selection, as they scored twice from set-pieces.

Not for the primary time, there may be panic within the Manchester United defence. Bukayo Saka is strolling in the direction of the nook and Nicolas Jover is positioned on the touchline. Rasmus Hojlund is holding onto William Saliba as if he’s greedy onto a log whereas tumbling down a quickly shifting river. The Emirates senses the chance and understands what is going on: there’s a queue of towering Arsenal gamers stationed on the again publish and the United defenders are sporting expressions of grave concern. Instantly, in a field of shifting shadows, hazard lay round each nook, each decoy grew to become a goal.

Seconds later, Ruben Amorim was within the dugout rubbing his face, as what ought to have been a cohesive, organised block unravelled into strands. “The set items modified the sport,” Amorim admitted. On an evening the place Arsenal initially didn’t appear to be scoring from open play, Mikel Arteta’s aspect received because of two objectives from corners to maneuver inside seven factors of Liverpool. In all of this, United grew to become the newest victims of Arsenal’s not-so-secret weapon.

Arsenal’s win in opposition to United – the primary time they’ve recorded 4 victories in a row in opposition to the Pink Devils within the league – was their fourth in succession for the reason that worldwide break.

They may head to Fulham on Sunday bidding to maintain the momentum going. Arteta mentioned: “The desire to win is there. We attempt our greatest to try this. We received 4 in a row, nevertheless it doesn’t matter. We’ve got to go to Fulham now, attempt to be higher than them and check out win the sport.

“It’s each three days that we play. It’s a loopy schedule. We’re going to want everyone and to mentally be very robust.”

Mikel Arteta and the membership’s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover embraced on the touchline as Ruben Amorim was left along with his head in his fingers. The Arsenal supporters cheered raucously each time they received a nook – touchdown 13 in all with out reply.

Nevertheless, Arteta moved to minimize the importance of Arsenal’s set-piece menace. “We’d like that, however we need to be very harmful and really efficient from each angle and each part of play,” mentioned Arteta.

“Right this moment we may have scored from open play like we did in opposition to West Ham and Sporting. Final 12 months we scored probably the most objectives within the historical past of this soccer membership. Not due to solely set-pieces, however due to a variety of issues that now we have. We need to create particular person and magic moments, too.”

Manchester United supervisor Ruben Amorim hailed Arsenal as among the best set-piece groups he has ever confronted following the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.

The Gunners took two factors out of Liverpool’s lead on the summit of the Premier League after Jurrien Timber and William Saliba struck within the second half – each from corners – to sentence Amorim to his first defeat as United boss.

The hosts’ second-half strikes took their goals-from-corners tally to 22 for the reason that begin of final season – a statistic that’s unmatched by every other workforce within the division.

Requested if Arsenal are among the best groups he has come up in opposition to on corners, Amorim replied: “When you observe the Premier League for a very long time you possibly can see that.

“They’re additionally large gamers and also you see each event when (Gabriel) Martinelli and (Bukayo) Saka have one-on-ones, a variety of instances they go exterior they usually cross, they usually know that if the cross goes effectively, they’ll rating, and if it’s a nook they’ll rating, too, so now we have to be higher on that.

“You’ve seen in all Arsenal video games that each workforce have had issues with that (corners). And the distinction immediately was the set-pieces.

“You see a objective after which the momentum modified, and it’s actually onerous for us to take the complete management of the sport after that.”

“What an evening. Manchester United have a brand new supervisor so we knew it will be a take a look at. We caught to the sport plan and we may’ve had three or 4.

“Whenever you go up for a nook it’s an opportunity to attain a objective. To attain each of them from corners, [set-piece coach] Nico [Jover] shall be buzzing and I’m so blissful. It’s extra simply seeing clips and I do know the burden I must placed on the ball and it’s nearly repetition. I put just a few good balls in and will’ve had a few assists so it was good to get one.

“When you’ve a blip within the league you get written off. We stick collectively as a bunch and we knew the run of outcomes weren’t adequate, now we’re beginning to see a flip of that. Individuals get carried away. You simply should be round it in February time. Liverpool have dropped factors, they’re seven away so we’ll see what occurs.”

Ex-Manchester United striker, Dimitar Berbatov, talking on Amazon Prime: “I admit that within the second half, the storm was there for Manchester United. Ruben Amorim mentioned earlier {that a} storm was going to return for his workforce and it got here tonight.

“The set-pieces had been a giant drawback for them and Arsenal scored twice from them. Now it’s again to the coaching floor to repair the errors.”

Former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen talking on BBC Radio 5 Dwell: “For me it’s all the time in regards to the supply.

“None of it really works except the supply is on level. You’ll be able to see how correct they’re. The supply occurs and the motion occurs – Arsenal appear so efficient from them.

“Arsenal recognise in an effort to be this bulletproof workforce they must be glorious in each division of the sport. Set-pieces are a large a part of the sport which regularly will get uncared for.”

And breathe. After 90 minutes of rollicking, rumbustious leisure, amid his disappointment, Arne Slot may at the least console himself with the sense he was vindicated in a single respect.

The Liverpool head coach had recommended Newcastle United may present his aspect with a harder take a look at than both Actual Madrid or Manchester Metropolis and, amid the drama on Tyneside, he was proved proper.

A fixture with a historical past of classics delivered one other.

Manchester Metropolis defeated Nottingham Forest 3-0 tonight.

“We would have liked it,” mentioned Pep Guardiola after the sport. “The membership and the gamers, everybody wanted to win. But it surely is only one win. The issues continued with Manuel [Akanji] and Nathan [Ake].

“Nathan doesn’t look good. We’ll see tomorrow. He couldn’t proceed and we’ll see in three days what is going to occur. I’m unhappy for Nathan. Manu perhaps in Turin. Nathan shall be longer.”