No VAR To The Rescue

Arsenal 2–3 Manchester United (helped on by two non-investigations into crucial handball incidents)

The unbeaten home record is gone. Not with a bang, but with a series of self-inflicted wounds, long-range thunderbolts, and that familiar sinking feeling when momentum evaporates in front of our own crowd in north London.

This was supposed to be a reset night. Four away games, four competitions, ten days of living out of suitcases — done. Back home. Emirates lights on. Control restored.

Instead, we handed United belief, space, and ultimately the points.

Bright start, brittle foundations

For half an hour, this looked like business as usual. The ball moved crisply, the press was sharp, and United were penned back, reduced to chasing shadows and hoping for transitions.

Saka was electric early, driving at defenders and forcing corners. Trossard looped one over. Rice surged, combined, and shot. Zubimendi rose to meet a free-kick, only to be denied by sharp goalkeeping. It felt inevitable.

The breakthrough, when it came, was messy but deserved. Saka's touch was pure silk, the cut-back perfect, and Ødegaard's first-time strike was diverted into his own net by Martinez under pressure. Not pretty. Not a classic. But 1–0, and fully merited.

What followed was the problem.

The gift that changed everything

Instead of tightening the grip, we loosened it. United grew into the game, Fernandes found pockets, and the warning signs flickered.

Then came the moment of madness. A loose, under-hit backpass. No pressure. No need. Just panic. Mbeumo accepted the invitation, took a touch, and rolled it past Raya.

From dominance to level in seconds. United didn't earn that goal — we donated it.

A screamer and a swing

The second half barely had time to settle before the dagger arrived. A possible handball in the build-up. Waved away. Play on.

Dorgu took one touch and absolutely leathered it from distance, the ball crashing in off the bar. You can argue about VAR, about consistency, about referees — but the truth is simpler: we allowed him the space, and at this level that's fatal.

Arteta rolled the dice early. Four changes. A clear message. But the fluency from the opening half hour never really returned. United sat deeper, waited, and backed themselves to strike again.

Hope, noise… and the inevitable punch

With ten minutes left, Saka nearly caught the keeper at the near post. The corner that followed descended into chaos. A scramble. A prod. Merino, off the bench, forcing it over the line.

The Emirates roared. Belief surged back. You could feel it — one of those finishes.

It lasted about two minutes.

Cunha picked up the ball outside the area, was afforded just enough room, and curled a finish into the bottom corner with infuriating precision. Another long-range strike. Another failure to close down. Another lesson unlearned.

Seven minutes of added time came and went with more noise than incision. The air had gone. The damage was done.

Loose Cannon verdict

• The start was excellent.
• The mistakes were catastrophic.
• The response was emotional, not controlled but VAR should have penalised Maguire for a handball that prevented an Arsenal goal and Dorgu's control with his arm.

However, you do not lose unbeaten home records by accident. You lose them by switching off, gifting goals, and failing to manage moments. It could be mental tiredness.

United didn't outplay us for long spells. They outpunished us when it mattered.

That's the difference.

What's next

Champions League business resumes midweek, with top-two already secured and knockout seeding in place. Then it's back to league duty away at Leeds — and a chance to prove this was a stumble, not a trend.

But make no mistake: nights like this linger.

And in a title race, generosity is punished.