Soccer-Arsenal dent Man Utd top-four hopes with 3-1 win

Saka

23/04/2022 14:27

LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - Arsenal dealt a blow to
Manchester United's hopes of a top-four Premier League finish as
Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka struck in a 3-1 win
on Saturday that revived the home side's chances of Champions
League football next season.
    Arsenal were rewarded for their blistering early pace as
Tavares tapped home in the third minute after United goalkeeper
David de Gea pushed away a curling effort by Saka, following
some poor defending by the visitors at The Emirates.
    Saka doubled the Gunner's lead from the penalty spot after a
foul on the winger in the build-up to a disallowed goal by Eddie
Nketiah. Nketiah's strike was ruled offside by the Video
Assistant Referee.
    United's sluggish display overshadowed fleeting moments in
which they threatened and was another reminder of the challenge
facing incoming manager Erik ten Hag, though the visitors got
one back as Cristiano Ronaldo swept in Nemanja Matic's cross.
    The Portuguese forward's 100th Premier League goal came
after a traumatic week personally for the player after the death
of one of his newborn twin babies.
    United improved after the restart but their woes deepened as
skipper Bruno Fernandes hit the post with a poor effort from the
penalty spot following Tavares' handball, before a 70th-minute
thunderbolt from Xhaka sealed the win for the Gunners.

 (Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh
Lawson)
 ((Shrivathsa.Sridhar@thomsonreuters.com;))