Matheus Cunha delivered a moment that will echo around north London. His curling finish on 87 minutes gave Manchester United a thrilling 3-2 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates, a victory born from nerve, bold play, and a refusal to fold under pressure. For Arsenal, it was a rare home stumble at the worst possible time, trimming their lead at the top to four points after wins for Manchester City and Aston Villa earlier in the day.

Under interim manager Michael Carrick, this was United’s second win in two league games and their most convincing statement yet. It moved them above Chelsea and Liverpool into fourth, and it felt like the night Old Trafford had been waiting for: a big-game performance that mixed control with character.

How Manchester United turned Arsenal 2-3 in the Premier League

Arsenal drew first blood, though even their opener came with a slice of luck. On 29 minutes, Martin Ødegaard’s shot took a cruel touch off Lisandro Martínez and spun in for an own goal. The Emirates roared; the league leaders looked set to tighten their grip.

But United did not panic. They pressed high, snapped into duels, and waited for their moment. It came eight minutes later. A loose backpass from Martin Zubimendi opened the door and Bryan Mbeumo pounced on 37 minutes to level the match. It was the kind of goal United have craved all season: alert, aggressive, and ruthless.

Right after the break, the visitors turned the scoreline on its head. Patrick Dorgu, the attacking full-back, finished smartly on 50 minutes after linking with Bruno Fernandes. United, now 2-1 up, had the control. They moved the ball with calm, trusted their shape, and looked organised in a way that reflected Carrick’s clear plan.

Arsenal, unbeaten at home in the league until this match, refused to go quietly. The hosts threw players forward and got their reward late on, with Mikel Merino heading home from a corner on 84 minutes. 2-2, the stadium bouncing, the script set for a frantic finish.

Then came the moment. Matheus Cunha picked up the ball around 20 yards out, shifted it, and curled his shot beyond the keeper into the far corner on 87 minutes. A stunning strike, a dagger to Arsenal’s title charge, and a line in the sand for a United side rebuilding their identity under Carrick.

“That’s a title-race goal and a top-four statement in one swing.”

Arsenal’s errors and the ripple effect on the title race

For Arsenal, this was not just about the defeat. It was about how it happened. The league leaders have been strong at home all season, but small mistakes told a big story. Zubimendi’s misjudged backpass handed United a path back into the game. Later, a set-piece lapse let Merino equalise. Across the 90 minutes, Arsenal conceded three times — that is 38% of the eight league goals they’ve allowed at the Emirates this season, all in one match.

The numbers underline the blow. This was Arsenal’s first Premier League home loss since last May (against Bournemouth), and it came on a weekend when both Manchester City and Aston Villa won. The lead is down to four points. With spring on the horizon, the margins shrink fast.

In fairness to Mikel Arteta’s team, they created pressure and found late life through Merino. But in high-end games like this, control of small moments decides the day. A poor pass. A missed clearance. A loose marker at a corner. United punished every slip.

“Arsenal can play anyone off the park, but can they manage the chaos when it hits?”

Michael Carrick’s United: structure, steel, and a cutting edge

Two matches, two wins, and now a signature result away to the league leaders. Carrick kept things simple and clear. United pressed with purpose, protected the middle, and let their front line attack space. Fernandes linked well with Dorgu for the second goal, and Mbeumo’s equaliser showed the benefits of the press from the front. Above all, the team showed real resilience after falling behind.

The impact is immediate on the table. United rise into fourth, above Chelsea and Liverpool. More importantly, their belief looks restored. Big away wins build trust in a dressing room. Players buy into the plan when it delivers points against the best.

Cunha will take the headlines for his winner, but the wider story is about the team’s response. At 1-0 down, they stayed calm. At 2-2 in the closing minutes, they still looked brave enough to win it. That is a mentality shift as much as a tactical one.

“Carrick-ball isn’t flashy. It’s clear. And right now, that’s exactly what United needed.”

Key stats and history: Arsenal vs Manchester United

• Final score: Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United.
• Scorers: Martínez (OG) 29′; Mbeumo 37′; Dorgu 50′; Merino 84′; Cunha 87′.
• Arsenal pre-match record: 15-5-3, 50 points — top of the Premier League.
• United jumped into fourth, moving above Chelsea and Liverpool.
• Arsenal’s first Premier League home defeat since last May.
• 38% of Arsenal’s home league goals conceded this season came in this match (3 of 8).
• United’s first Premier League comeback win at Arsenal since February 2005 (4-2).

What this means for the run-in

For Arsenal, this needs to be a wake-up call, not a wobble. The title race is still firmly in their hands, but the cushion has thinned. At home, they must return to the habits that made them so hard to break: control, clean passing, and no gifts in their own third. The response, not the setback, will define their season from here.

For Manchester United, the message is simple: keep going. Fourth place is a marker, not a finish line. The level shown at the Emirates is the standard they must hit again and again. With Carrick steadying the group and the attack finding key moments, United suddenly look like a team with both a plan and a punch.

On nights like this, the Premier League shows its heart. One moment can flip a match and shake a table. Cunha found that moment. Now the race tightens, and the next twist is just around the corner.