EPL: Arsenal blow away Manchester United to hand Arteta first win
Updated On: 02 January, 2020 12:48 PM IST | London | AFP
Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored the goals to secure just a second win in 16 games

Arsenal's Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta (2nd L) celebrates with his players on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London. Pic/ AFP
London: Mikel Arteta got everything he asked for in his first win as Arsenal manager with a rampant first 45 minutes from the Gunners earning a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates. Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored the goals to secure just a second win in 16 games. Arsenal started the game three times as many points off the top four as the relegation zone, but a first home win in 87 days hauls Arteta's men up to 10th and within four points of United in fifth.
"I am very pleased with the performance, I'm even more pleased with the result," said Arteta after his third game in charge.
"Everything I wanted to see on the pitch, I saw tonight." There were signs of encouragement for Arsenal in Arteta's home debut against Chelsea on Sunday when only a late collapse saw a 1-0 lead turn into a 2-1 defeat. However, this time the hosts saw the game through as a dismal United performance raised fresh questions over their chances of finishing in the top four.


