Carrick’s magic! Man United come from behind to stun Arsenal at the Emirates

The history of this fixture found a poetic rhythm this weekend. Back in December 2021, following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Carrick stepped in to lead a struggling Manchester United to a chaotic 3-2 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford. 

Fast forward more than 4 years to early 2026, and the 44-year-old strategist has once again haunted Mikel Arteta. This time, however, the sensation was even more profound as his "Red Devils" silenced the Emirates Stadium in a high-octane North London evening.

Coming into this clash, Carrick opted for consistency, naming an unchanged starting eleven from the side that had dismantled Manchester City 2-0 just days prior. This meant the in-form Patrick Dorgu continued on the left wing. Arsenal, meanwhile, welcomed Gabriel Jesus back to the starting lineup for the first time this league season, while Viktor Gyökeres began on the bench.

The match ignited in the 29th minute when Arsenal’s pressure forced an error. Bukayo Saka’s cross led to a goalmouth scramble where Lisandro Martínez accidentally diverted the ball into his own net. The Argentine became only the second United player to score an own goal against Arsenal in the Premier League, the first since Gary Pallister in 1994.

However, the lead was short-lived. In the 37th minute, Martin Zubimendi committed a disastrous error, scuffing a back-pass directly to Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroonian striker showed elite composure to round David Raya and slot home the equalizer. This goal made Mbeumo the first United player since Robin van Persie in 2012 to score against Arsenal, City, and Liverpool in his debut season.

The second half began with United firmly on the front foot. In the 50th minute, Dorgu produced a moment of magic, firing a thunderous long-range strike that clipped the underside of the bar before hitting the net.

Arsenal responded by throwing everything forward, and in the 84th minute, substitute Mikel Merino bundled home a corner to make it 2-2. Yet, the drama was not over. Just 3 minutes later, Matheus Cunha picked up the ball and unleashed a stunning curler from distance, sealing a 3-2 victory.

This result is historic, marking Man United's first away win against Arsenal at the Emirates since 2017. Furthermore, it ended Arsenal's incredible streak of 83 consecutive league matches without conceding more than 2 goals. For Carrick, his managerial record at United remains flawless; across his five total matches as interim boss (spanning 2021 and 2026), he has never lost, securing 4 wins and 1 draw.

While United celebrate, the defeat is a bitter pill for Arsenal. It was their first home loss of the season and their third consecutive league game without a win. The Gunners' lead at the top has now been slashed to just 4 points, as they sit on 50 points from 23 games with Man City breathing down their necks on 46. 

Meanwhile, Man United have surged into fourth place with 38 points, officially leapfrogging Liverpool and establishing themselves as serious top-four contenders under Carrick’s Midas touch.