Antony soaked up the celebrations, quite rightly so having scored on his Manchester United debut, but this was an afternoon all about Marcus Rashford. Just as he did on his own Premier League debut, the 24-year-old scored twice against Arsenal to seal victory and end the perfect start to the campaign experienced by Mikel Arteta’s side.

United performed sharply and clinically to achieve what none of the previous five teams who have faced Arsenal have managed and came away with not only a point but three. Erik ten Hag’s team have four wins on the spin now — for every Brighton & Hove Albion defeat and four-goal humiliation to Brentford there are big victories over Liverpool and Arsenal.

Another statement win for Ten Hag’s team this may have been, and after Jadon Sancho scored his second for the campaign against Leicester City in midweek, here Rashford netted his second and third in his most impactful appearance in recent memory which also included an assist. This was a sizeable scalp for United, halting Arsenal’s 100 per cent start and preventing them from winning their first six league games for the first time since 1947.

Arsenal still sit top, by a point, but couldn’t match 2013, which was the last time they led by four points. The very fact that Arteta’s team could harbour such an advantage at this stage highlights the high level at which his team have been playing. When Bukayo Saka equalised in the second half to cancel out Antony’s opener, the travelling contingent from north London may have fancied their chances of achieving only a second win at Old Trafford in 16 years.

New-signing Antony celebrates scoring on his Man Utd debut (Simon Stacpoole - Getty Images)

They had, after all, came from behind to defeat Fulham a week ago, but Ten Hag’s United are a different beast; now brimming with confidence and a strength of character that was unfathomable in the early days of the season.

Old Trafford rejoiced when their £85million arrival from Ajax slotted past Aaron Ramsdale to open the scoring — the early signs are that the Brazilian will fit quite nicely on the right side of United’s attack, and is clearly a disciple of Ten Hag’s high-pressing approach. His energy levels barely dropped until he was taken off just before the hour for Cristiano Ronaldo, who himself stood and applauded when the goal went in.

Yet, the home crowd left with Rashford’s name on the tip of their tongues. His form has been in sync with United’s and his lack of development of late has been one of the many concerning aspects of his club’s downturn. But here he appeared re-energised and played well in the No.9 role.

Story of the game

Ten Hag chose to throw Antony in for his first start in the place of Anthony Elanga, and was rewarded. There was still no Casemiro in a United starting lineup and that’s mainly down to the recent displays of Scott McTominay. Arteta was able to start with Ramsdale, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard, all of whom were injury doubts.

Not before long, there was the needle that once always adorned this meaningful fixture: Lisandro Martinez hacked at Gabriel Jesus — United versus Arsenal but also Argentina against Brazil. It was a fast start, full of intent and energy and showcased two teams who want to attack. Given Christian Eriksen’s quality he would have fancied hitting the target when trying to side-foot Diogo Dalot’s cross at the back post, but his effort sailed past the post.

It was Eriksen who was supposedly fouled in the build-up to Gabriel Martinelli’s ‘goal’ on 12 minutes. The midfielder was dispossessed by Odegaard and Saka rolled a defence-splitting pass to Martinelli whose finish past David De Gea was cool but subsequently ruled out. Referee Paul Tierney was ordered to the pitchside monitor and he felt Eriksen had been pushed unlawfully.

Odegaard was adjudged to have fouled Eriksen in build-up to Arsenal's opener (Michael Regan - Getty Images)

Despite not making it to the scoresheet, that move demonstrated Arsenal’s potency. Saka was soon at it again, skating past Tyrell Malacia like quicksilver. It was entertaining fare, and Martinelli could have headed Arsenal in front when De Gea saved after Odegaard crossed. But Antony soon made his name — as if he needed to.

The new man had offered a few dummies in trying to advance past Zinchenko on his return to Manchester. But when United went forward once more, Bruno Fernandes fed Sancho and he found Rashford. A pass was threaded to Antony and he had the ball in the inside right channel on his left boot, there was only one outcome and Ramsdale was soon picking the ball out of his net.

It was pleasing to see two teams go at it in an attacking sense, and even though behind and up against the statistic that United haven’t lost having led at home in the league since 1984, Arteta’s team played with class and at a high tempo. Odegaard spurned a simple chance, slashing wide from close range, then Saka’s twist allowed a blaze at goal but this missed the target too.

United central defenders, Raphael Varane and Martinez, had their hands full with Jesus. And the striker was the target of Odegaard’s fizzing delivery on the hour which struck Dalot instead, leaving Saka to slot home from 12 yards. The attacker didn’t want to celebrate for long in front of the Arsenal supporters, favouring instead to get the game going again — he wanted another.

Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal's equaliser against Man Utd (Simon Stacpoole - Getty Images)

Rather it was the home team who came to the fore. Rashford faltered after being found by Eriksen but soon made amends when the Dane tapped to Fernandes who released the forward. Rashford smashed the ball off Ben White and past Ramsdale and United were ahead once more. Off came Sancho for Fred, a sign of steadying the ship — not quite.

Rashford was not done. Fernandes and Eriksen combined once again with the latter running clear down the right before calmly squaring for Rashford to beat White’s desperate attempts again to block and tap in from close range. It sealed United’s win and checked Arsenal’s fine start.

Player of the Match: Christian Eriksen

The Dane ran the show at Old Trafford, progressing the ball up the field with such nonchalance. His link-up play with Bruno Fernandes was instrumental to United's second and third goals. He appears to be making the number-six role his own.

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