United cruise to victory

Arsenal and Wolves also earned three points just days after Europa League ties

MANCHESTER UNITED 3 WATFORD 0

Bruno Fernandes’ first Man United goal set them on their way to an impressive win over Watford, but the highlight of the afternoon was a fine strike from Anthony Martial.

Fernandes got off the mark in United red with a nonchalant penalty after being brought down in the box by visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Watford had a Troy Deeney header ruled out, with video assistant referee Craig Dawson spotting a handball in the build-up, before Martial beat Foster with a wonderful clipped finish.

United’s 18-year-old forward Mason Greenwood hit a powerful strike off the underside of the crossbar to complete the victory.

It might have got even better, with United substitute Odion Ighalo going agonisingly close to marking his Old Trafford debut with a goal against his former club.

The win saw United move up to fifth, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Solskjaer hailed Martial, saying: “This week he’s come up with a number nine, centre-forward’s goal, a header against Chelsea.

“He did everything to get the goal against Brugge – defending, winning the ball, running through.

“This today is more than the Anthony we know about. The skill is just mindblowing. But I want more from him and I’ll keep at him.”

ARSENAL 3 EVERTON 2

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a brace as Arsenal came from behind to beat Everton.

The visitors needed only 49 seconds to take the lead as Dominic Calvert-Lewis punished some poor defending from a free-kick.

But Eddie Nketiah levelled after a brilliant Bukayo Saka cross before Aubameyang struck either side of a Richarlison goal as Arsenal recorded back-to-back league wins for the first time since the first two games of the season.

For Everton, there was the welcome sight of Andre Gomes returning as a second-half substitute, less than four months after suffering a fracture dislocation of his right ankle .

Arsenal are four points behind United and lie in ninth.

Aubameyang – who tops this season’s Premier League goalscoring charts alongside Jamie Vardy with 17 – is out of contract at the end of next season and has been linked with other clubs.

“They are completely right to want him because he is a superb player,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

“He completely deserves to be liked by all the other teams. Hopefully we can convince him that this is the right place for him and that he has a future here.”

WOLVES 3 NORWICH 0

Wolves are eighth – two points ahead of Arsenal – after a comfortable win over Norwich at Molineux.

In-form Diogo Jota scored twice to add to his hat-trick against Espanyol on Thursday night before Raul Jimenez bagged his 21st of the season.

Wolves remain firmly in contention for more European football next season.

But a 17th defeat of the campaign leaves Norwich rooted to the foot of the table.

“The way they recover, the way they respect themselves, the way the staff dedicates, we don’t have days off,” revealed victorious boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

“We are always preparing ourselves to compete. This is how we want to compete, and the difficulty is to sustain it, so it requires a lot of hard work.

“Every day is harder. But it’s our job. We embrace the challenge so everybody has to help - everyone.”

Martial, above, enjoys his United goal as Saka and Aubameyang, top right, and Santo, bottom right, celebrate.