Lingard scores brace in United win

With Pep Guardiola’s pacesetters not in action until Sunday, United’s 3-1 victory took it to within five points of the Premier League summit following emphatic wins for Chelsea and Liverpool earlier in the day.

But Mauricio Pochettino must find a way of lifting struggling Spurs after it dropped two more points against Watford with a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road that leaves it 15 points off the pace.

Jose Mourinho took his team to the Emirates with questions over how they would approach the fixture after a poor recent away record against fellow members of the “Big Six”.

But United quashed all thoughts of shutting up shop and was immediately on the front foot, taking the lead through captain Antonio Valencia in the fourth minute and doubling its lead just minutes later through in-form Jesse Lingard. 

Arsenal came back strongly, attacking in waves and pulled a goal back early in the second half through Alexandre Lacazette but United re-established a twogoal margin through Lingard again.

As the match lost some of its high-octane momentum, referee Andre Marriner sent off Paul Pogba for a studsup tackle on Hector Bellerin to change the balance of the contest, but Arsenal could not take advantage. 

With the Manchester derby looming next week at Old Trafford, United has a chance to haul itself right back into the title race though Mourinho will be devastated to lose the services of midfielder Pogba. 

In a thrilling end-to-end contest United looked irresistible on the break but Arsenal enjoyed more than 70 percent of possession in the first half, hitting 15 shots at United’s goal.