Amad Diallo taunts Arsenal after dramatic Manchester United win at the Emirates
Amad Diallo could not resist a pointed response after Manchester United stunned Arsenal with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Emirates Stadium, a result that reignited questions around Mikel Arteta’s attacking approach and dented the Gunners’ grip on the Premier League title race.
United left north London with all three points thanks to a late Matheus Cunha winner, just minutes after Arsenal had dragged themselves level from yet another corner. The result cut Arsenal’s lead at the top and shifted the spotlight back onto their heavy reliance on set-pieces.
Arsenal did threaten United repeatedly from dead-ball situations, but their struggles in open play were again evident. Despite being one of the league’s highest scorers, Arteta’s side lacked incision outside rehearsed routines, allowing United to stay in the contest and strike decisively when it mattered.
From a broader perspective, the concern is growing. Arsenal have scored 42 league goals this season, with only Manchester City ahead of them, yet 26 of those have come from set-pieces, the highest total across Europe’s top five leagues. As the season tightens, that imbalance is becoming harder to ignore.
The atmosphere inside the Emirates was intense from the opening whistle, with Arsenal dominating territory early and forcing United deep. Corners and free kicks piled up, while United relied on quick transitions, with Amad and Cunha carrying the threat whenever space appeared.
Key moments swung the momentum back and forth. United weathered early pressure, survived a series of set-piece scares, and grew into the game through disciplined defending and sharper movement between the lines. Arsenal pushed, but clarity in the final third remained elusive.
Goals arrived in waves. United struck first before Arsenal responded, with the hosts once again finding joy from a corner. When Mikel Merino bundled home to make it 2-2 in the 84th minute, the Emirates roared, sensing another comeback driven by dead-ball pressure.
That hope was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Cunha produced a moment of brilliance to fire United back in front, silencing the home crowd and sealing a statement win for the visitors.
The second half told a familiar story for Arsenal. Possession and territory belonged to them, but United looked more dangerous in open play. Tactical adjustments from the visitors allowed Amad greater freedom on the flank, stretching Arsenal’s back line and creating space centrally.
Late drama followed the final whistle online. Amad responded to a pre-match prediction from an Arsenal fan with a blunt reminder, posting that Arsenal’s only hope was a corner, a message that quickly went viral after the result. It underlined both United’s confidence and Arsenal’s growing narrative problem.
Looking ahead, the victory lifts United into fourth place, with back-to-back home fixtures against Fulham and Tottenham offering a chance to build momentum under Michael Carrick. For Arsenal, the defeat raises uncomfortable questions at a critical point in the title race, with solutions needed beyond the corner flag if they are to stay ahead.