Arsenal has intensified the title race with Manchester City, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion on the final day of the Premier League season.
In Manchester, England, the Premier League title race is set to culminate on the final day of the season as Arsenal reclaimed the top spot in the standings with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
Leandro Trossard's decisive strike in the 20th minute at Old Trafford ensured that Arsenal will take defending champions Manchester City to the wire in the final round of matches next Sunday.
A win for Manchester United could have potentially handed the title to City if they secured victory against Tottenham on Tuesday. However, Arsenal's determined performance saw them leapfrog their title rivals, securing a crucial one-point lead in second place.
The defeat for Manchester United marks another setback for manager Erik ten Hag, as his team suffered their 14th loss in the league this season. It extends a troubling streak for United, who have managed to win just one of their last eight games in England's top division.
Arsenal capitalized on lax defending from Manchester United, exploiting a moment when makeshift center back Casemiro failed to push up quickly enough, leaving Kai Havertz onside. Seizing the opportunity, the German forward surged into the box and delivered a precise cross for Trossard to convert from close range.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will face Everton in the final round, while City will host West Ham.
For now, Arsenal has applied maximum pressure on Pep Guardiola's side, surpassing their performance from last season. Last year, a late collapse by the Gunners allowed City to secure a third successive title with three games to spare.
Although the title remains within City's grasp, they must secure victories in their remaining two games to ensure a record fourth consecutive English league title.
Arsenal harbors ambitions of reclaiming the championship for the first time since 2004, when Arsene Wenger's iconic team completed an entire league campaign undefeated, earning the moniker of the "Invincibles."
The trip to Old Trafford presented Arsenal with its toughest challenge during the run-in, with a history that did not favor the visiting side, having secured only one victory in its last 16 encounters at Manchester United's home ground. Despite this, Arsenal entered the match as the favorite against a United team that had been brutally exposed by Crystal Palace earlier in the week, suffering a 4-0 defeat at Selhurst Park.
Casemiro had faced significant criticism for his performance against Palace, yet Ten Hag entrusted him with a similar role against Arsenal, a team renowned for its potent attacking prowess in the league.
Thus, it was unsurprising when Casemiro was at fault as Arsenal swiftly took the lead.
However, the unexpected aspect was Arsenal's failure to capitalize on their advantage, allowing United to dominate possession for extended periods without posing a significant threat.
The second half remained devoid of clear-cut chances until substitute Gabriel Martinelli dazzled his way through United's defense, forcing Andre Onana to make a crucial save to deny a goal-bound effort destined for the top corner.
The United goalkeeper was called into action twice more in quick succession, first thwarting Aaron Wan-Bissaka's near own-goal header and then palming away Declan Rice's long-range strike aimed at the bottom corner.
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