Teenage striker Marcus Rashford was Manchester United’s hero again as he scored twice to earn Louis van Gaal an invaluable 3-2 Premier League win over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
The 18-year-old added to his debut double in midweek with a clinical first-half brace, before former Red Devils striker Danny Welbeck pulled one back for Arsenal prior to the break.
Rashford then supplied Ander Herrera with United’s deflected third as the hosts dealt the Gunners, who grabbed a consolation through Mesut Ozil, a huge blow in their title quest.
Here, CaughtOffside rates how United performed on a dramatic day at the Theatre of Dreams…
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GK: David de Gea – 7/10
Made a couple of excellent point-blank blocks in either half, although the second rebounded straight to Ozil to follow-up for Arsenal’s second goal.
RB: Guillermo Varela – 7/10
Got himself booked very early on for needlessly wrestling Alexis Sanchez to the ground, but stayed disciplined from then on. Put in a great cross which led to the first goal.
CB: Michael Carrick – 6/10
Did a fairly good job filling in at centre-back although Arsenal hardly asked any questions of him, especially in the first half. Olivier Giroud would have had more joy.
CB: Daley Blind – 7/10
Made a couple of excellent interventions and his passing out from the back was very good.
LB: Marcus Rojo – 5/10
Substituted for Timothy Fosu-Mensah on 55 minutes. The Argentine will be desperately disappointed to have picked up a fresh injury on his first start in several months.
CM: Morgan Schneiderlin – 7/10
One of his better games in a United shirt of late. Sat very deep to help protect the makeshift defensive pairing, but was weak as Welbeck headed Arsenal to within one.
CM: Ander Herrera – 8/10
Showed why he should always start – industry in the tackle and adventurous forward runs. Got his reward when his shot took a big deflection and wrong-footed Petr Cech for the decisive goal.
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AMR: Jesse Lingard – 6/10
Started brightly on the right flank, but faded in the second half. Allowed Nacho Monreal to get the run on him a couple of times and was lucky that the Spaniard could not capitalise.
AMC: Juan Mata – 7/10
The Spaniard was tidy in possession as per usual, and also put in the dirty work off the ball.
AML: Memphis Depay – 8/10
Built on his midweek performance with a really decent outing here. Looked lively and more confident on the ball and, along with Rashford, he offered United a crucial outlet in the second half.
ST: Marcus Rashford – 10/10
Absoltuely outstanding. Two clinically-taken goals, a composed assist for Herrera and a fearless attitude to run at Arsenal’s defence all game. The 18-year-old must think he is dreaming.
Substitutes
Timothy Fosu-Mensah – 6/10
Van Gaal entrusted the unproven kid to replace Rojo, and he was generally assured as Arsenal piled the pressure on. Made one mistake which was rectified by Varela on the cover.
Adnan Januzaj – 5/10
Rashford was given a standing ovation as he was replaced by the Belgian on 80 minutes. Januzaj had a chance to square to Mata and make the game safe, but his pass was cut out.
James Weir – N/a
Another United youngster came on for a debut in stoppage time to wind the clock down.
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