NKATCH US IF YOU CAN!
Eddie’s brilliant double turns the title chase into a two-horse race
THE noise was deafening at the final whistle as Arsenal celebrated a huge moment.
It deserves to go down as a Premier League classic, a blood and thunder game which should be remembered alongside the Battle of Old Trafford and Pizzagate.
These two giants used to play the biggest games in any season but, even at their peak, they rarely produced entertainment like this. A five goal thriller, nonstop drama and a 90th-minute winner.
Two-goal hero Eddie Nketiah eventually settled it in Arsenal’s favour. It broke Manchester United hearts and might just have turned the title into a two-horse race.
The Gunners are now five points clear of Manchester City in second place but what will please Mikel Arteta more than anything is the way his players pass every test and overcome every barrier.
City had beaten Wolves earlier in the day to apply some pressure and yet Arsenal held their nerve, showed unbreakable spirit and won through against a United side who have been flying under Erik ten Hag.
With Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham in the directors’ box at the Emirates, this felt like old times with the great rivals going toe to toe.
But for the second time in four days, United conceded in the 90th minute. On Wednesday it was Michael Olise’s late leveller at Crystal Palace. This time it was even more painful.
No wonder the fans celebrated, the Arsenal players mobbed Nketiah and Arsenal boss was on the pitch dancing in delight.
If there were any doubts about Arsenal being good enough to win the title, then there are not any more.
Arteta has worked miracles at the Emirates, instilling an incredible belief and even when the biggest rivals come to town, there is no fear.
It was United who struck first when Bukayo Saka and then Thomas Partey got themselves into a mess, Marcus Rashford nicked the ball, nutmegged Partey and was given too much space to hit a stunning low 20yard shot past keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
In the past, the home crowd would have lost heart. It would have gone quiet or worse become toxic. Now there are no poisonous vibes, just belief in the stadium.
Back came Arsenal with the fans roaring them on. How they have transformed their followers is Arteta’s biggest