In what has traditionally been a difficult fixture, Arsenal managed to clinch three points at Manchester United’s playground Old Trafford.
Leandro Trossard scored the decisive goal at Old Trafford with 20 minutes on the clock as Kai Havertz profited from an intercepted Andre Onana pass to tee up the Belgian’s simple finish.
With this result, Arsenal sit at the top of the table with 86 points and just a point clear of challengers Manchester City.
City do have a game in hand over their rivals, which will come into play as we head into the final matchday of the season next week.
United hold onto eighth spot but are in danger of being displaced by West Ham, who have a game in hand.
The world’s attention will now turn to Manchester City’s match with Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday as they pursue a fourth straight Premier League title.
The Gunners move one point clear of City, who thrashed Fulham 4-0 on Saturday and still have a game in hand at Arsenal’s fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, meaning the title remains in the hands of Pep Guardiola’s side.
City then host West Ham United on the final day, while Arsenal are at home to Everton.
United, beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace on Monday and now with just one win in their last eight in the competition, stay eighth in the table and are three points off Chelsea and Newcastle United directly above them with one match to go.
Onana’s pass was cut out on the halfway line and played to Havertz, who was kept onside by Casemiro failing to get up the pitch, and the German squared for Trossard to convert from point-blank range.
The Gunners, who failed to win on the two other previous occasions they had led at half-time at Old Trafford, were happy to sit back after the restart and welcome United onto them.
Casemiro was invited to shoot from distance and did just that, forcing a save from David Raya, who then denied Antony’s poor attempt from a similar position.
But there was to be no way through for United, who had Onana to thank for late saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice, as the visitors completed a league double in this fixture for the first time since 2006/07.
Trossard’s goal, which came despite United having four players back in a position to intercept Havertz’s pass, makes it 82 goals conceded for the Red Devils across all competitions this season – the most they have shipped in a single season since 1970/71 (also 82).
Erik ten Hag’s men were ultimately unable to hit back and have therefore now suffered 19 losses across all competitions this term, which is their most since 1977/78 (also 19).
This is also just the third time in Premier League history they have lost at home to three sides from the capital in a single season, having previously fallen to Crystal Palace and Fulham.
