The young Marcus Rashford, the new sensation of Old Trafford, led Manchester United to victory (3-2) against Arsenal, which distances itself from the Premier League leader Leicester and also aspires to Tottenham.
The 18-year-old attacker, in just three days, has become the hope of the 'Reds' fans. Born in Manchester, he is the joy of Louis van Gaal's team. The hope in a tumultuous year full of disappointments.
Rashford, driven by the injuries of Wayne Rooney and the Frenchman Anthony Martial, was Van Gaal's resource. He looked to the academy and found Rashford, who made his debut in the Europa League last Thursday. His two goals against the Danish team Midtjylland took his team to the round of 16.
His debut in the Premier League was equally successful. In three minutes, he beat Czech Petr Cech to give Manchester United an advantage in the match against Arsenal, who has two consecutive victories and three matches without losing.
Just before half-time, however, Danny Welbeck raised the expectations of the 'Gunners' and established a 2-1 result. But in the 65th minute, the Spanish Ander Herrera widened the local advantage until, four minutes later, the German Mesut Ozil scored the final 3-2.
Manchester United earned three points to get closer to the fight for the Champions League spots. Arsenal, a rival of Barcelona in the premier continental competition, moves away from the leadership struggle. They are five points behind Leicester and three behind Tottenham, who is in second place alone.
EFE
Confirmed line-ups:
Manchester United: De Gea; Varela, Carrick, Blind, Rojo; Schneiderlin, Herrera, Lingard, Mata; Memphis and Rashford
Arsenal: Cech; Monreal, Koscielny, Paulista, Bellerín; Coquelin, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott; Sánchez and Welbeck.
PREVIEW:
Manchester United hosts Arsenal this Sunday (9:05 a.m. / ESPN 2) at Old Trafford, for matchday 27 of the Premier League, with the obligation to earn three points to continue aspiring to finish the season in Champions League spots.
The match between 'Red Devils' and 'Gunners' will close matchday 27 of the English league, on a Sunday where Liverpool and Manchester City will play the final of the League Cup at Wembley Stadium.
Thus, Arsenal, in third place, visits the 'Theatre of Dreams' after falling in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Barcelona (0-2).
Without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, or Jack Wilshere, and with the doubt of Gabriel Paulista, the team from north London aspires to take the three points from Manchester United.
"We are at a crucial moment of the season. We work all year for this period, where everything is at stake. We have to overcome the disappointment of the Champions League," said Arsene Wenger, Arsenal coach.
On the other hand, Manchester United, after crushing FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, comes to the match with 14 absences and with doubts until the last minute of goalkeeper David de Gea, defender Chris Smalling, and forward Anthony Martial.
Claudio Ranieri will not be able to count on right-back Danny Simpson, who was sent off two weeks ago in the defeat against Arsenal (2-1), so Ghanaian Daniel Amartey, signed in the January market, could make his debut with the 'Foxes'.
"My players are fresh and ready for battle. I told them that the match against Arsenal is much easier than the one on Saturday against Norwich. It will be a tough fight and we have to stay focused," said the Italian strategist.
In Tottenham, forward Harry Kane will return, who missed the Europa League match after breaking his nose, but Argentine coach will not have the injured Moussa Demele, Tom Carroll, Jan Vertonghen, and Clinton Njie.
"It is true that for the fans the Premier League is more important than the Europa League, but we must respect both competitions. I think we have enough quality and a big enough team to compete in both," Pochettino said.
Chelsea, in turn, which continues its climb in the middle of the table, visits the always complicated St. Mary's Stadium on Saturday to face Southampton.
In the 'Blues', twelfth in the table, defender John Terry and forwards Radamel Falcao García and Alexandre Pato will miss the match due to injury.
EFE