Manchester United vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Leandro Trossard goal earns crucial victory for Gunners

In having done the bare minimum here, Arsenal have so far done all they can in the title race. It was not pretty, but it will now mean potential drama on the last day. That’s at least what Mikel Arteta’s side have taken the title race to, with this grind of a 1-0 victory over Manchester United now meaning Manchester City have to win at Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday. That game and the final week is now abound with complicated storylines, which is why Arteta had to keep it as simple as possible.

The relief could be felt when David Raya caught a late cross by Alejandro Garnacho. Arsenal had not exactly been firing, and it said much the only goal came through Casemiro’s laxness rather than any lightning play. That doesn’t matter at this point. Leandro Trossard was there again, and Arsenal are there on the final day. It was just about getting through. If Arsenal didn’t look at their best, mind, the reality was United never looked like scoring. They just didn’t have it in them, despite a broader improvement in performance.

You could draw all sorts of metaphors from the way a diluvian rainstorm started the second the game finished, as United trudged off.

“Very important to play, here is always tough. We prepared well, it wasn’t our best game but we needed the three points and we [got them].”

“It feels nice, we have to win every game and it’s nice to be in the title race and to have to play your best to win.”

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“I think it was about getting over the line for Arsenal. They will never have an easier game than that, they didn’t play well at all, and never really got out of second gear.

“I didn’t think Arsenal controlled the game at all. Man United had enough of the ball around the box and if they had the final ball, perhaps if the decision-making was better they would have had a chance.

“It was one of those that if United had scored it wasn’t like Arsenal were looking like they would score again. It is a good win. They did a job today.”

Manchester United’s last title challenge came 11 years and five managers and an interim appointment ago. And yet they could have had their greatest impact in the destination of the trophy since the days when Sir Alex Ferguson prowled the technical area, fingers tapping his watch. They had already ended one title tilt; Arsenal ensured they did not strike down both of Manchester City’s rivals to anoint their neighbours as champions.

Still more than the four points United denied Liverpool, the psychological blow of failing to beat such a terrible team – despite 87 shots in three games – was too much even for Jurgen Klopp’s mentality monsters. They exited the title race in embarrassment, reeling in incomprehension. Arsenal created fewer chances at Old Trafford and emerged with more points; in recent weeks 4-3 has been a more familiar outcome in United matches than 1-0 so there was an old-fashioned element to the scoreline.

Mikel Arteta’s side went ahead in the first half when Leandro Trossard turned home Kai Havertz’s cross but were not at their fluent best against Erik ten Hag’s out-of-form side.

Still, a resolute defensive display – typified by William Saliba’s man-of-the-match performance – means they return to the league’s summit ahead of Manchester City’s midweek fixture against Tottenham.

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Manchester City still have to play Tottenham and West Ham. They trail Arsenal by one point and know that they will at least have a chance of winning the title on the final day.

Arsenal’s last match is against Everton at the Emirates Stadium. This season could end in the most fantastic way.

Arsenal have won 27 Premier League games this season, their outright most ever in a campaign in the competition, and most in any league season since 1970/71 (29).

That defeat is a club record-equalling ninth home defeat of the season for Manchester United and the first time in 50 years they have lost as many matches at Old Trafford in a single campaign.

Arsenal go back to the top of the Premier League table and lead Manchester City by one point. City do have a game in hand so the title race is still in the hands of Pep Guardiola’s men.

The Gunners have now won five matches in a row and will need a sixth victory to have a chance of claiming the title.

90+6 mins: There goes the whistle! Arsenal have done it. They’ve come to Old Trafford and beaten Manchester United in the most tense and nervous of matches.

The Gunners head back to the top of the Premier League table and force this title race into the final day of the season. Before then Man City will face Tottenham in midweek and Mikel Arteta’s men will need some help from their north London rivals to wrestle control of the race back.

Man Utd played well. A lack of experience and quality up top was their main undoing but Erik ten Hag will feel his side can learn from this outing ahead of a crucial FA Cup final in a couple of weeks.