Manchester United won an enthralling clash with Arsenal with Jesse Lingard clinical, David De Gea peerless and Paul Pogba dominant and then dismissed.
Antonio Valencia and Lingard punished early defensive mistakes by Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi to give the visitors a commanding lead with just 11 minutes on the clock.
De Gea made save after save after save, even off his own players, before Alexandre Lacazette netted just after the break but Lingard struck on the counter to settle the game before Pogba's late red card.
James Olley was at the Emirates Stadium to assess the key talking points...
A grand fixture rediscovers its magic
This fixture used to define Premier League title races. It was essential viewing as two teams representing a duopoly at the summit of English football went toe-to-toe, creating some of the most iconic moments in the division’s history.
Both sides have struggled to recapture that pre-eminence in recent seasons and their head-to-head clashes have suffered as a result but this was arguably the game of the season so far.
Arsenal contributed to their own downfall but United’s early 2-0 lead set an enthralling pattern thereafter, as the home side pressed and probed while the visitors counter-attacked with speed and precision. So much for Jose Mourinho parking the bus.
Arsenal go for broke – with 75 minutes left
Shkodran Mustafi’s injury 15 minutes in with Arsenal 2-0 down left Wenger with a pivotal decision to make. Per Mertesacker was on the bench but the Gunners boss opted instead for Alex Iwobi, abandoning their 3-4-2-1 system to play with a back four.
Arsenal obviously had to chase the game but it was nevertheless bold for Wenger to do so that early, especially as he explained in the build-up to this game how the key to their impressive home form is the stability a three-man defence provides, especially against counter-attacking opponents.
It was, however, a leading reason why this became a pulsating contest, however, and the Gunners were unfortunate not to score at least once before the break.
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Wenger upped the ante following Paul Pogba’s red card and ended with game with Lacazette, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud, Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey all on the pitch yet United held firm.
Wenger and Mourinho play fast and loose with team news
Wenger had ruled out Alexandre Lacazette of this context with a groin problem and so his inclusion from the outset here was a big surprise.
It did not look the gamble it first appeared given he was sharp throughout and got the goal his performance deserved four minutes after half-time, suggesting there was perhaps an element of mind games to Wenger’s initial prognosis.
Mourinho, no stranger to such tricks himself, pulled a similar shock by including Nemanja Matic despite the midfielder limping off at Watford on Wednesday with a muscular strain. Matic was equally uninhibited and so both managers played fast and loose with their team news, with United ultimately gaining the upper hand.
United stay on City’s tails – at a price
Mourinho finally won his first League game away at a top six club with United to close within five points of Manchester City at the top of the table.
Yet Pogba’s 74th-minute dismissal for an ugly tackle on Hector Bellerin means he will be banned for a Manchester derby United have to win if they are to put meaningful pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side.
Pogba’s powerful drive forward for United’s third goal exemplified how important he is to Mourinho’s counter-attacking approach and his loss will be keenly felt at Old Trafford next weekend.
De Gea proves his worth
Real Madrid continue to be linked with a move for David De Gea and the United goalkeeper proved why with a string of fine saves here.
His double-stop to deny Lacazette and then Sanchez was perhaps the pick of the bunch and it came at a crucial time – Arsenal were only 2-1 down and had United on the rack but De Gea kept them at bay and Jesse Lingard scored their third a few minutes later.
Chris Smalling, Marcus Rojo and Victor Lindlof defended resolutely and ultimately it was Arsenal’s own defensive mistakes – with Laurent Koscielny and Mustafi gifting United possession for their first two goals – which created a mountain they were unable to climb.