Ronaldo’s brace secures victory as Arsenal falter defensively

Cristiano Ronaldo’s two goals helped Manchester United secure a comeback victory against Arsenal at Old Trafford. Despite some promising individual performances, the Gunners were unable to capitalise on their early advantage.

Arsenal’s opener came in unusual circumstances when Emile Smith Rowe volleyed the ball into an empty net while United’s goalkeeper, David de Gea, was down injured. However, the home side responded with a Bruno Fernandes goal before halftime. Ronaldo added two more after the break, either side of Martin Odegaard’s strike, ensuring three points for United.

Player Ratings:

Aaron Ramsdale (6): Showed his trademark distribution skills but conceded three goals. A mixed evening for the usually reliable goalkeeper.
Takehiro Tomiyasu (7): Strong defensively, keeping Jadon Sancho subdued, and contributed offensively when possible. A key block on Fernandes stood out.
Ben White (6): Started strongly but faded alongside the rest of the backline. Steady but not faultless.
Gabriel Magalhães (6): Solid at times, unlucky to be part of a defence that leaked three goals. Nearly scored early in the second half.
Nuno Tavares (6): Showed flashes of quality but his decision-making remained inconsistent. Kieran Tierney may reclaim his spot soon.
Thomas Partey (5): A lacklustre first-half showing with misplaced passes. Improved after the interval but still below expectations.
Mohamed Elneny (6): Energetic and tireless in midfield but struggled to offer creativity with the ball.
Gabriel Martinelli (7) – Star Player: A lively presence on the wing, creating chances and troubling United’s defence. Missed one opportunity but crafted another for Aubameyang.
Martin Odegaard (6): Scored a well-taken goal but conceded a costly penalty with a clumsy challenge.
Emile Smith Rowe (7): Scored the opener in unusual fashion and worked hard defensively. Showed creativity on the ball.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (5): Another frustrating outing for the captain, who struggled to make an impact and lacked sharpness in front of goal.
Substitutes:

Bukayo Saka (6): Offered spark and creativity off the bench, leaving Arsenal wondering what might have been if he had started.
Alexandre Lacazette (N/A): Came on late and had limited time to influence the game.
Eddie Nketiah (N/A): Another late substitution with minimal impact.
Despite flashes of quality from players like Martinelli and Smith Rowe, Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities and lack of cutting edge in attack proved decisive. With Everton up next, Mikel Arteta will look to address these issues quickly.