When Marcus Rashford made his Manchester United debut, in a Europa League game against Midtjylland in February 2016, everyone present at Old Trafford that evening knew they were seeing the first steps being taken by a precocious talent. Two goals at the Theatre of Dreams, it’s what all United supporters dream of.
Since then, there have been highs and lows — with the foot injury and shoulder problem that ruined Rashford’s season last time out particularly notable. Dips in form and self-esteem subsequently came but the renaissance this season has been remarkable. The off-season training and work in the gym has paid off as he looks in impeccable nick.
Rashford’s current rich vein of form is the best of his career to date. The 25-year-old is scoring and performing with such regular occurrence that he is currently the star of Erik ten Hag’s United. Confidence seeps out of the forward and the way he took his goal against Arsenal demonstrated the ambition and belief now pulsing through him.
It was Rashford’s interception, blocking off a Thomas Partey passing lane, that turned possession over. He quickly received the ball from Bruno Fernandes and then nutmegged Partey. And with Arsenal defenders starting to surround him, he drove a low shot from 20 yards out into the bottom right corner of Aaron Ramsdale’s goal.
That was Rashford’s ninth goal in nine matches since the World Cup and his 17th of the club season. The danger he possessed didn’t end there. Just ask Ben White who was given a full examination at right back and had to keep his wits about him when one-on-one with England’s most in-form player before being replaced by Takehiro Tomiyasu at the break.
Rashford’s goal lit the touch-paper in this epic of a game, the match of the season so far. One that ultimately United lost 3-2 but can still take positives from. For too long, Arsenal versus United matches have been damp squibs and not had much meaning as far as the title race is concerned. Not here, not now. This was front, right and centre.
Three English scorers in best game of the season
This was a retro version of the fixture; a throw back to the titanic tussles that were played out in the 90s and early 00s. Think Ruud van Nistelrooy and Martin Keown, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, and Pizzagate.
Four further goals would follow in this encounter; two scored by Eddie Nketiah, who is proving more than an able deputy for the injured Gabriel Jesus; another by Bukayo Saka, who became the third Arsenal player, after Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg, to score in three successive games against United; and one more by Lisandro Martinez, his first since joining the club in the summer.
It was a see-saw game and one that Arsenal probably deserved to win and ended up doing so to maintain a five-point lead at the top of the table.
United are ahead of schedule under Ten Hag, a title challenge possibly too much for them to hope for; a top-four finish more realistic, which would still represent progress. After the concession of a last-gasp equaliser at Crystal Palace last Wednesday, they once again had a sinking feeling in the capital.
But heart can be taken from this performance at a now formidable Emirates Stadium where currently few visitors emerge with any points to their name. United were confident and front-footed, showcasing that they can now hold their own against high-quality opponents.
As the game swung either way, United kept their heads — even if Arsenal were able to stretch the visitors’ back line a little too easily. Still, Ten Hag will like the organisation that his defence attempted to maintain along with the saves David De Gea made to keep United in the contest.
But no one could really but a lid on this lively fare. Gareth Southgate watching from the stands will no doubt have been pleased by the performances of Saka, Rashford and Ramsdale. Luke Shaw, United’s left back, also had a good game despite being regularly tested with Arsenal’s direct attacks.
This was a shoot-out of the highest quality and Rashford, quite aptly, got the scoring started.