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Give the job to Michael Carrick? Manchester United have been here before, of course, surfing a wave of good results and good vibes to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager. A decision they came to regret. But this felt like more. Potentially much more.
The sense is that Carrick is not in the running. But why not? Beating Arsenal – and blowing the Premier League title race wide open again – and Manchester City in his first two games in charge is hugely impressive.
That is some body of work to have already assembled – although, of course, we need far more evidence to substantiate Carrick’s credentials. But United are transformed.
Look at the context. This was Arsenal, away, and Mikel Arteta’s side have not lost at the Emirates all season. They have also won all 24 of their games when they have gone in front in this campaign as they did through Lisandro Martínez’s unfortunate own goal.
But United turned it around and then had the strength of character to go again, and not try to settle for the draw, with Matheus Cunha’s brilliant, stunning goal. The substitute ran on and bent his shot around Gabriel Magalhães and beyond goalkeeper David Raya. It was the second of two fine strikes by United from outside the penalty area.
WOW! INCREDIBLE from Matheus Cunha! 💥 pic.twitter.com/MVRNaPCOcR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
As well as they played, Arsenal only have themselves to blame as they were punished for the third of three errors – after Bruno Fernandes twice failed to take advantage – with Bryan Mbeumo seizing on Martín Zubimendi’s terrible back-pass to equalise.
Bryan Mbeumo equalises for Manchester United! 👊 pic.twitter.com/zDbCns36MM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
They then took the lead through a superb finish from Patrick Dorgu, transformed now he is playing in a more forward role, as he combined with Fernandes before striking a powerful shot.
Patrick Dorgu, that is SENSATIONAL! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3iQZrGVjQ4
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
It looked like Arsenal had salvaged a point, late on with substitute Mikel Merino scrambling the ball home from a corner. But as his name still rang around the stadium, United regained the lead and claimed the win. There were two minutes and 58 seconds separating those goals.
It is such early days but there does appear to be something more substantial about this Carrick regime for United. He just looks the part with Steve Holland such a shrewd addition as his assistant, constantly moving forward to offer advice. It is also two wins from two games for Carrick against Arteta.
For Arsenal what felt even more damaging than the defeat was the air of desperation and anxiety that quickly spread around the stadium – as often happens here. They are still four points clear at the top but need to show far more composure than this if they are to be champions.
There was even a brief smattering of boos at the final whistle.
Full report to follow
And finally, here’s Michael Carrick
We understood the start of the game was going to be like that as much as we tried to turn the momentum in our favour. I think we understood how the game was going to go and the flow of it. I thought we started to take the ball and connections through the pitch, had that composure and a few moments gaining a bit of confidence as well.
We were having a decent spell and seemed to be coming into the game when they scored, which was disappointing. Again, we showed the character to come back and there were stages in the game where you have to defend. They make you defend the box really and it’s challenging at times, but I thought we had enough in the game to keep believing in the confidence and I always fancied us to score.
Today, coming away we had to create our own energy between us, and the away fans in the corner were incredible. There’s that element, playing away from home and understanding the phases of the game really, how it’s going to develop and being patient, be disciplined at the right time. We took the ball well at times and played forward and really positive and got rewards from it.
It’s only been 10 days we know it’s not going to be perfect. You can’t expect to come here and dominate the ball. We’re just starting off and it’s a good starting point but we need to start putting some layers on top, and we’ll try to do that in the coming weeks.
On how he’s transformed this team:
I give a lot of credit to the staff and players in terms of how much they’ve invested and how much they’ve bought into it. It’s alright trying to help them and say certain things but they’ve got to live it and they have done.
You can see that with boys coming off the bench and it’s a collective feeling. It’s great when it comes together and everyone’s in it and we can celebrate with the fans at the end. It’s important and a big moment. My kids were in there, they’re not kids anymore, that in itself is emotional, it’s the passion, the excitement of these types of games and to come out on top is fantastic.
On whether he wants to take charge next season:
I’m enjoying it. It’s a fantastic position to be in. What happens next I’m not going to be answering it every week. I’m enjoying it and I’ll continue to do what I can.
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky Sports
First of all you have to congratulate Man Utd for the victory. It happened in a really strange way to be fair because we were dominant in the first half-hour, scored a goal and had another two brilliant chances to score. [We gave them the equaliser and] it was unusual from our side and that changes the momentum and intensity from our side a little bit. We dropped the standards. The game wasn’t in our control and then they had two magic moments. Credit to them. In big games you need those magic moments.
We ere carrying that bit of negativity and the lack of fluidity that we needed. But we made some changes, gathered some momentum and made it 2-2. Everything changes immediately. The next action is in the six-yard box we think we’re going to get something and the next moment one long ball, one pass and Cunha changes the momentum again. It’s a really painful one. I am very very close to the players who have given so much joy with their performances and now is the time to stay very close and support them.
They are very dangerous, we knew that. We have to learn from it. Defeats are a part of winning and [my players] have to take them to remind themselves of how good they are.
When we draw or lose a game, that’s when we have to have unity [with the fans] It’s easy after winning. When we draw or lose, that’s when we have to show togetherness, the unity, the energy to get where we want. Defeats are part of that for us and for any team. We were brilliant at Stamford Bridge in a semi-final, brilliant against Inter. Sometimes you don’t have that day.
We have to do what the players deserve, remind them of how good they are and they joy they give.
I take responsibility for everything. We move on and in three days we have another game.
[Are your players too tense, do they need freeing up?] I don’t think so. Four days ago, how free and fluid they looked in Milan. It was unbelievable. No excuses. We accept the defeat, we congratulate the opponent and we move forward.
Vieira on Arsenal
Disappointing performance. When you’re at the top of the table you expect to win the game at home. Especially against United.
I think there was a lack of aggression. Too many players failed to deliver.
A disappointing team performance from Arsenal.
They’re still four points clear. But there’s still questions about the mental strength of the the team.
It’s not just that they lost the game, it’s the way they lost the game. Saka and Trossard didn’t produce enough to worry United.
They need a leader to lift the spirit of the team. They need to understand when they are on the pitch they have to play with more energy and more risks. They have the quality.
They didn’t play with the freedom to express themselves.
Martin Odegaard speaks to Sky Sports
It wasn’t good enough from us. Hard to tell exactly why now. I need some time to analyse it. But it wasn’t good enough. Now is the time to stick together even more and keep working, keep being together and bounce back.
The first half we were the better team, scored a goal and had control of the game but then had a lot of giveaways that created dangerous moments. Second half we changed a bit and managed to get the 2-2 and could have gone on to win it but they scored straight away. Not good enough. We have to work even harder, push each other even harder and bounce back.
It was never going to be easy in this league and now is the time to be strong and together.
I thought we were well-prepared and started strong but the momentum changed and they have quality players so I don’t think [nerves and tension] were a factor. We stick together now.
We had a lot of giveaways, a lot of duels they won and let them run and attack us. We never got into the rhythm of creating chances, creating attacks.
It was never going to be east. Every game is a big challenge and a big test. We’re still top and we need to keep going and bounce back.
Harry Maguire’s quotes in full
It’s absolutely massive. One-off results can happen in a derby so we had to back it up today. Arsenal ask a lot of questions of you, so to have a late setback and still get the win. It’s a magnificent performance.
Michael’s been brilliant with us. He’s brought fresh energy and galvanised the group. Two tough games, so to win both is magnificent.
We’ve got a bigger squad now with the lads back from Afcon, and we’ve got players like Matheus to come on. I’m sure he’s not happy being on the bench, I know what he’s like, but I must say he’s made the difference for us in both games.
They started the game really well, but after 20 minutes I felt we got a grip on the game and started being braver on the ball, not going through the middle but playing through the lines. I think we were comfortable in the second half. Their biggest threat was set-plays, they managed to score one – it was a scrappy goal and something we’ll have to look at. But like I said, we have quality that can hurt teams and we managed to do that today.
It’s been a tough few years for [our fans]. Results like last week, and like tonight, are what they deserve.
Harry Maguire was named man of the match
“To go and get the winner was magnificent!” 🤩
Harry Maguire & Matheus Cunha on a HUGE win in North London against league leaders Arsenal! pic.twitter.com/TcXP1T64JY
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
How it stands
Michael Carrick is beaming
And receives a hero’s welcome from his supporters as he advances towards them having let the players have first dibs on the adulation. He pumps his fist and they respond in kind.
Full time: Arsenal 2 Man Utd 3
Remarkable victory for Manchester United against an Arsenal side that seemed to lack belief and a degree of ingenuity when stifled. Two wonderful goals, from Dorgu and Cunha, crowned the victory but the rot set in when Zubimendi epitomised the sloppiness after Arsenal’s opener by making a gift of the equaliser.
90+7 min: Arsenal 2 Man Utd 3
Gyokeres’ blushes averted for a truly terrible attempt at a finish when clean through on Lammens when the referee whistles for his foul in the build-up. He somehow hooked his shot behind him and headed for a throw-in.
90+6 min: Arsenal 2 Man Utd 3
Vital sliding interception by Martinez stops the ball getting through to Gyokeres in the box and then Dalot’s bravery at the back post earns him a free-kick when Gabriel nuts the back of his head.
90+4 min: Arsenal 2 Man Utd 3
Another sloppy pass gives the ball to Bruno Fernandes on halfway and he tries to chip the keeper who is off his line but his effort sails into the crowd.
90+3 min: Arsenal 2 Man Utd 3
A couple of moves have broken down because Madueke has made the wrong choice.
90+2 min: Arsenal 2 Man Utd 3
What sort of supporter leaves now? Crazy.
Seven minutes of stoppage time to come
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That Cunha goal has ripped the life out of the Emirates. Fans are streaming towards the exits.
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This time Carrick really did celebrate! He couldn’t help but jump up and down with both fists clenched as Cunha netted an absolute stunner. The Emirates is emptying as the United fans party.
GOAL!
Arsenal 2 Man Utd 3 (Cunha) An absolutely superb goal that silences the Emirates, apart from the away which is in party mode. Fernandes made a short pass inside to Cunha from the left and he dribbled to the right, dead centre of goal and leathered a shot around Gabriel and into the bottom right corner from 25 yards. Cunha swears into the camera as he congratulates himself. There was some swearing in here as well. It was that kind of breathtaking finish.
WOW! INCREDIBLE from Matheus Cunha! 💥 pic.twitter.com/MVRNaPCOcR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
GOAL!
Arsenal 2 Man Utd 2 (Merino) From the corner Lammens is stuck when he tries to barge his way through and deal with the near-post cross. The ball falls to Merino who stabs a shot that Cunha clears off the goal-line straight back to Merino whose second effort is hooked away by Sesko but from six inches over the line. The ref’s watch pings and the equaliser stands.
The Emirates, ERUPTS! 🤯
Mikel Merino finds the equaliser for Arsenal! pic.twitter.com/yRnuGOgVkw
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
84 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Sesko’s face turns beetroot as he wears a volleyed clearance from Bruno Fernandes flush in the mooey. He gets to his feet as Arsenal press upfield to earn a corner. Man Utd defend the cross and Lammens turns Saka’s left-foot near-post drive round the post.
82 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Gyokeres meets Saka’s left-wing cross but glances it over from 10 yards, having beaten Martinez. It may have come off his shoulder.
Sesko → Dorgu
80 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Dorgu is hurt after trying to pull White out of the way and run through. It’s a foul but he seems to have blown his right hamstring.
78 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
From the throw Madueke spots White’s underlapping run but sprays the pass intended for the right-back straight out of play.
77 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Madueke tries to drive between Maguire and Shaw, dribbling a high pace and with good control but Maguire gets his toe in and knocks the ball out for a throw-in.
76 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Arsenal make their final change:
Madueke → Trossard.
Saka switches to the left.
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Arsenal are entering their desperation mode, which can also be described as their “give it to Saka and pray” mode.
74 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Arsenal look a little helpless at the moment, lacking inspiration and leadership after a couple of minutes of Manchester Unite pinning them in the last third with Mainoo and Maguire looking to pick passes, moving their opponents around.
The crowd is groaning with every loss of possession or blind alley.
72 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Shouts of hand-ball when Maguire slides to block Merino’s shot and it brushes his fingers as he fell to the ground. VAR agrees with the referee that it was a natural position.
70 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Arsenal free-kick when Martinez wraps his hand around Gyokeres’ chin from behind as they fought for a bouncing ball. Rice takes from 40 yards out and chips ito Merino who scoops his header wide.
Arteta is tapping his watch as Lammens, understandably, takes his time over the restart.
68 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Trossard, picked out on the left ny Merino’s chip, stands up a cross towards the penalty spot that Maguire meets.
Matheus Cunha → Mbeumo.
66 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
The free-kick is 40 yards out. Bruno Fernandes takes and clips it straight down Raya’s throat.
From Raya’s throw Arsenal move up the right and Rice, hoping to exploit Mainoo’s decision not to close him down, gets a shot off from 25 yards that curls over the bar.
64 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Rice is booked for snaking his leg from behind Bruno Fernandes to plant his studs on the Man Utd captain’s metatarsals after he had completed the pass.
62 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Manchester United deal with the corner. But Arsenal keep the centre-backs high as they keep probing away until Saka takes on the cross and floats it straight to Lammens.
60 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Martinez races over to the left to stop Ben White’s cross and deflect it behind for a corner. Arsenal have even more height now after the changes.
58 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Arsenal make four subs:
Merino → Zubimemdi
White → Hincapie
Eze → Odegaard
Gyokeres → Gabriel Jesus
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Arsenal need to stay calm here, on the pitch and in the stands. The atmosphere is spiralling, fast.
Mikel Arteta is making a quadruple substitution after 57 minutes. That is compelling evidence of an unhappy manager.
57 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
Arsenal corner after decent work from Saka. Martinez is lucky not to be booked for catching Gabriel Jesus after the ball had gone out. Mainoo clears off the line from the corner after Lammens made the wrong decision.
55 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2
The crowd’s frustration is palpable and has been for quite a while. “Arteta’s got to take the handbrake off, clear his bench,” says Gary Neville. Dorgu gets in again down the inside left and thumps a rising shot over the bar.
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Schmeichel was not so respectful this time. He was out of his seat with his arms outstretched shouting ‘yes’ when that Dorgu shot went over the line.
GOAL!
Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2 (Dorgu) Brilliant goal, though there is a VAR check to see if it hit his wrist as he controlled it before crashing in a left-foot half-volley from 20 yards off the crossbar. He cuts his laces across it, making it swerve and dip unstoppably. VAR says it should stand as it hit his hip not his hand. Arsenal are dozing.
Patrick Dorgu, that is SENSATIONAL! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3iQZrGVjQ4
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
48 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 1
Gary Neville feels Arsenal players are tense while the Manchester united players are far more relaxed and there is some truth in it when looking at their demeanour as they pass the ball. Gabriel Jesus is penalised for a shove on Maguire. At least Jesus is smiling as Rice tries to gee up the crowd.
46 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 1
Harry Bassett suddenly becomes in vogue as Arsenal hare upfield from the kick-off after rolling the ball back to Raya who sticks it in the mixer and the ball skips through to Lammens.
Half-time chat
“Arsenal look tentative and predictable going forward,” says Roy Keane, who adds that he feels the crowd is jittery as if they’re a bit fearful of the challenge of being frontrunners and favourites for the title. Patrick Vieira agrees with him.
Half-time: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 1
Arsenal were on top for 30 minutes but lost their focus, descended into sloppiness with their passing and have let Manchester united back in. Had Bruno Fernandes taken one of those two presentable chances, Arsenal would be behind and could have no complaints.
I wonder if, like the Aston Villa match at home, when they gave Villa a handful of chances they didn’t take before the break, they find their best form in the second half.
45+1 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 1
The first of two minutes of stoppage time starts with Mbeumo spotting Raya off his line and trying to hook a right-foot volley from the edge of the D over his erstwhile Brentford team-mate. It would have been a worldie but the volley sails over the angle of post and bar. Great technique and thinking, though.
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Arsenal have been sloppy since Mbeumo’s goal. The home fans are getting a bit jumpy now. Lots of groans near us in the press box.
45 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 1
Another Arsenal mistake when Trossard passes straight to Dalot but his team-mates snap into the press to force the right-back to revert to using his keeper.
43 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 1
Arsenal have been wobbling since scoring and Manchester United are growing in confidence, pouncing on mistakes which are coming more frequently than they have all season. They have had a couple of corners that Raya has managed to punch away, one convincingly, the other not so as he crashed into the back post.
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Martin Zubimendi has not made many mistakes since joining the club in the summer, but that is a bad one.
41min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 1
Manchester United concede a needless free-kick on their right. Rice, the crowd licking their lips as he lines up the cross, bends it straight down Lammens’ throat.
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There was no celebration from Carrick when United equalised. Instead, he immediately called Luke Shaw for a long chat on the touchline. He also gave Lisandro Martinez instructions when the rest of the players were celebrating Mbeumo’s goal. Schmiechel kept his cool, when he must have been tempted to give the fans in front of him a bit back.
GOAL!
Arsenal 1 Manchester United 1 (Mbeumo) The slackness that created the two chances for Bruno Fernandes now bites Arsenal on the backside. Zubimendi receives a pass in the right-back position from Saliba and then looks to knock it back inside blind but gives it straight to Mbeumo who latches on to the gift, sprints free into the box, rounds the keeper and slots it into an empty net.
Bryan Mbeumo equalises for Manchester United! 👊 pic.twitter.com/zDbCns36MM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
36 min: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 0
Manchester United twice catch Arsenal on the break after the goal over the space of a couple of minutes, both times driving down the space between Timber and Saliba. On both occasions Bruno Fernades drags right-foot shots wide with a clear path to goal, the first all his own fault, the second after Saliba made a fine sliding recovery interception that just took it out of his optimal stride.
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Now those fans are having some fun of their own. They celebrate Arsenal taking the lead by turning to Schmeichel and shouting ‘C’mon you Gunners’. He took it in good spirits, to be fair.
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Arsenal were very patient in the build-up to that goal, circulating the ball around the back and from side to side for a long, long time. I think Arteta will have really enjoyed the way they worked it.
Jurrien Timber is Arsenal’s right-back but in recent weeks he has also been their centre-forward at times. That was absolutely the case against Liverpool earlier this month and he was in that central striking position again there to force the goal. Arteta has spoken about using defensive players in more advanced roles against deep-lying opposition and Timber is becoming increasingly effective at it.
GOAL!
Arsenal 1-0 Man Utd (Martinez og) Hincapie overhits a cross on the run from the left beyond Gabriel Jesus and beyond the back post. Dorgu makes a mess of the clearance, heading it straight up the chimney rather than away and Saka feeds it to Odegaard. The captain’s shot arrows towards the six-yard box where Timber bullies Martinez and sticks his right foot between his legs to sweep it past Lammens off the defender’s heel.
Jurrien Timber slots the ball past Lammens at the Emirates! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/RdAuAmINSM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
28 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Saliba cruises out of defence again as Zubimendi drops in to cover. He is such a smooth runner, eating up the ground.
27 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Manchester United enjoying more possession now but have not been able to find the precision as yet and are forced back to Lammens, pretty in Psychedelic Furs’ pink, as Arsenal cut off the passing lanes.
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Manchester United’s legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel is sitting in front of me in his role as a broadcaster. The Arsenal fan he just shouted at to sit down so he could see what was going on got a bit of shock, when he turned around to see it was the Dane.
24 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
A rare foray from Manchester United but they’re now back on the back foot as Arsenal lay siege on the last third.
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Here are some stats on the opening 20 minutes
Shots: Arsenal 6 – 0 United
Possession: Arsenal 72% – 28% United
Accurate passes: Arsenal 106 – 32 United
Passes in final third: Arsenal 47 – 6 United
22 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Mainoo has a shot from 20 yards that cannons into Gabriel at close range after Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro pounced on a dawdling Odegaard.
20 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
A fourth Arsenal corner as Manchester United just can’t get out of their half. This one is chipped by Saka to the near post and Saliba stoops to meet it as it dipped but it drifts even further down than anticipated and strikes him on the shoulder and out for a goal-kick.
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We published a piece this morning about how Saliba has added a new attacking dimension to his game, but it was still a surprise to see him in the United penalty area as Arsenal surged forward. His cut-back to Rice was not as forceful as Arsenal would have hoped…
18 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Arsenal free-kick on the right, taken by Rice, natch. He swings it in towards the near post and Zubimendi climbs to win the header, meets it powerfully and Lammens makes a good reflex save to slap it over the bar for a corner that comes to naught because a flag goes up for an infringement.
15 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Good break from Saliba to gallop forward down the right and get past Shaw but then he makes the wrong call with Gabriel Jesus pleading for a cross, cutting it back to Rice instead who tries to hammer a shot through a thicket of legs and is blocked by a defender putting down the long barrier, crouching and kneeling on one knee to make a horizontal obstacle with the other leg.
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Michael Carrick has been very calm on the touchline so far. He has barely flinched as he has stood with his arms behind his back. Steve Holland has got up a few times to bark instructions.
13 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Rice tries an odd one from his repertoire, driving a low, flat pass from the corner to the right of the D with the intention that Saka would crash in the volley but it dipped surprisingly and Saka couldn’t control it. Man Utd break and Trossard, diligent and dutiful as ever, races back to make sure Mainoo’s pass to Mbeumo doesn’t reach its target.
11 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Floaty corner to the centre of the goalmouth. Casemiro heas it away but not with any great force and it sits uo a bit too high for Trossard who balloons his half-volley over the bar. But from the goal-kick Arsenal come back with Trossard down the left and he, too, earns a corner with a blocked cross.
9 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Arsenal corner after rounding Dorgu on the outside, rides the attempted trip and whacks a left-foot cross into Shaw’s body that rebounds out for a corner.
8 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Neat work from Trossard down the left. He’s the unsung hero of this side. His quick feet seem to mesmerise Dalot and then he slips a pass across the 18-yard line to Rice who puts his laces through a shot that Martinez blocks with his shins.
7 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
As Gary Neville points out, Gabriel and Saliba are not going to give Bruno Fernandes any space at all, unlike City last week. Whenever he gets on the ball, they snap into tackles or try to smother him with their physiaclity.
5 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Odegaard drives a left-foot pass out to Trossard on the left. He cuts back inside and Arsenal begin to knock it around, probing again. There was a chance to drive down the outside and test Dalot’s speed but he chose not to and in the end the move breaks down when Hincapie’s pass into the box is overhit and slides out of play.
3 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Gabriel clips a pass up the inside-left channel, flicked on by Rice and chased by Gabriel Jesus who is flagged offside midway through a thunderous Martinez tackle.
1 min: Arsenal 0 Man Utd 0
Manchester United kick off, knock the ball straight back to Lammens ho launches it up the left, earning a throw-in off a defensive header. From the throw-in, Man Utd look for Mbeumo with a long diagonal but Arsenal defend the pass solidly, win the ball back and start to probe up the left.
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Harry Maguire has twice picked the grass in the opening minutes and thrown it in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. It’s something you often see in golf, but not so much football.
The teams are in the tunnel
They emerge after the light show, Arsenal in red and white, Manchester United in tracksuit tops inspired by some John Squire artwork in tribute to Gary Mani Mounfield, lifelong Red. Beneath the tops they’re in black and high viz yellow.
Michael Carrick speaks to Sky Sports
It’s never the same again… Every game is different but we’ve had a good week and we’re in good shape. We understand this has been a tough place to come for many teams.We’re going into it positive, in a really good spirit and excited. You have to be excited for games like this and the boys are looking forward to it.
A word from Mikel Arteta
We gave to go game by game and understand where each individual is who were going to play and then make a decision [why Gabriel Jesus is in for Viktor Gyokeres], what we need to start and what we need to finish the game, that is the scenario for us.
They [Man Utd] have really good organisation and great players. When it comes to big games there are certain things you need to do, to be dominant and we start with that. But there will be shifts and changes depending on what they do.
Aston Villa have beaten Newcastle
Unai Emery’s side’s 2-0 victory at St James’ Park puts them on 46 points, the same as City, in third on goal difference and four points behind Arsenal.
Striking concerns
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The two big summer signings for these clubs were Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko. Both clubs looked at both players. Sesko was Arsenal’s preference a year ago, while there are some suggestions Gyokeres was United’s preference this year. It’s an interesting dynamic, then, as those two face each other here… or, it would be at least, if they were playing! Both are on the bench, which says a lot…
Amad Diallo speaks to Sky Sports
🗣️ “He knows the quality I have”
Amad speaks about Michael Carrick’s impact at Manchester United ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/MjMtDhUip4
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 25, 2026
Your teams in black and white
Arsenal Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Trossard.
Substitutes Kepa, Mosquera, White, Eze, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Madueke, Merino, Lewis-Skelly.
Man Utd Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo.
Substitutes Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Ugarte, Mount, Sesko, Matheus Cunha.
Referee Craig Pawson (Sheffield)
The Emirates expects
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Arsenal’s last two league games have both ended 0-0. If that happens again today, they will be the first team since West Ham in 2015 to have three consecutive goalless draws in the Premier League. They would also have some furious supporters to answer to, because the home crowd today will be expecting an aggressive performance, especially following Manchester City’s victory yesterday.
The good news for Arsenal is that their recent record against United is excellent. Mikel Arteta has won 67 per cent of his 12 Premier League games against United, the highest win rate of any manager to face United at least five times.
Premier League, be warned: William Saliba has added a new dimension to his game
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Can there be a more unpleasant experience for Premier League forwards than playing directly against William Saliba? From the moment he started appearing in Arsenal’s defence, the Frenchman has been one of the most physically dominant centre-backs the Premier League has ever seen. He is bigger and faster than almost all of his opponents, and turns like a man with half the weight.
Even Erling Haaland, probably the most athletically formidable striker in the division, has generally preferred to clash with Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba’s defensive partner, instead of Saliba. When the two men went shoulder-to-shoulder in a sprint in 2023, the Manchester City striker ended up on the turf, his face in the grass, as Saliba calmly collected the ball.
Saliba’s physical gifts and calmness in possession have played a major part in Arsenal having the best defence in English football since he made his Premier League debut in August 2022. In the 118 top-flight games he has played, Arsenal have conceded only 92 goals.
Manchester United team news
Carrick names unchanged starting XI:
Michael Carrick names an unchanged XI for today’s game ⚫️
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 25, 2026
Arsenal team news
Out go Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres for Piero Hincapié, Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🔙 Hincapie returns
⚓️ Rice anchoring the midfield
⚡️ Jesus up topWe know what this game means – COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!
Presented by @deel 🤝
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 25, 2026
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Preview: Fifth Manchester United manager lucky against Mikel Arteta?
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United from Emirates Stadium. The visiting side’s victory in last week’s derby allows Arsenal to stretch their lead over Manchester City at the top of the table to seven points with victory today, something Mikel Arteta has achieved over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim in a run of five home wins and a draw in this fixture since taking over in December 2019. In fact only Louis van Gaal (once in two visits) and Jose Mourinho (same) have headed back up the M6 with three points since the heady days of the 16-year Ferguson-Wenger duels.
Arteta takes on his fifth Manchester United manager today and Michael Carrick made an impressive start by defeating Manchester City. Victory for them, a first for the club in the league since 2017-18, will add to the relief felt by supporters that they are not being held hostage by managers who can’t think beyond their narrow Eredivisie or Primeira Liga horizons. Having watched his Middlesbrough sides on many occasions, Carrick has talent as a tactician and motivator but whatever happens between now and the end of the season, they have to guard against the kind of hubris that a caretaker’s gloss can generate. Once bitten, they should be twice shy of all the “Carrick’s at the wheel” guff.
The home side come into the game after two goalless draws in the league, with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, joyless, drab affairs that seem to be souring non-Arsenal fans’ views of their quality. Not that Arsenal fans will care if the efficiency-first approach brings them their first title for 23 years. That one was lifted by Patrick Vieira who is reunited with Roy Keane and Gary Neville in a Sky bid to inject some needle into what used to be a spicy fixture. The brotherhood of chummy punditry has neutered all that but expect the greatest hits, even if they feel they’re being played by a band on a relationship counsellor-monitored “bury the hatchet” reunion tour.
Both squads are in pretty rude health: Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapié are back in training and could feature today, making Max Dowman the only definite absentee. Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs De Ligt are at least a week away from coming back but Noussair Mazraoui is available after returning from defeat in that hilarious Afcon final last Sunday.
