Arsenal made a huge statement of their Premier League intent, coming from behind to beat in-form Manchester United 3-2 in front of a raucous Emirates crowd.
United forward Marcus Rashford silenced the home fans with the opening goal but an equaliser from Eddie Nketiah and a wonderful second-half strike from Bukayo Saka turned the match on its head.
But the visitors, dangerous on the break throughout the match, levelled the pulsating encounter when Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez headed in after Arsenal failed to clear a corner.
The Gunners poured forward in search of a winner and eventually got the goal they deserved when Nketiah turned the ball home in the 90th minute.
Guardiola full of praise for Haaland | 01:02
Scott McTominay replaced Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who was ineligible after picking up a fifth booking of the season in United’s midweek draw with Crystal Palace, with loan signing Wout Weghorst again leading the line.
New Arsenal arrival Leandro Trossard, who joined late last week from Brighton, had to settle for a place on the bench as Mikel Arteta named an unchanged team.
There is growing sense of belief at the Emirates that the Gunners can at last end their long wait for the Premier League title, which they have not won since 2004.
Arsenal flew out of the blocks, with Thomas Partey flashing just wide as they surged forward.
But it was United who broke the deadlock in the 17th minute in stunning style, when Bruno Fernandes found Rashford, who skipped past Partey with ease and powered a low drive into the corner of the net from 25 yards.
Arsenal were level just seven minutes later when in-form Nketiah lost Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the back post to nod home Granit Xhaka’s cross.
Now the wind was in the home team’s sails as they poured forward but United went close to re-taking the lead, McTominay forcing a diving save from Aaron Ramsdale.
Arteta was booked by referee Anthony Taylor just after the half-hour mark as emotions got the better of him but the first half ended all square after few clear-cut chances.
Arsenal were again first to threaten after the break, pouring forward in search of another goal and they took the lead in the 53rd minute.
Christian Eriksen stood off England’s Saka, who shifted the ball onto his left foot and fired unerringly past David de Gea in the United net from outside the box.
But a pulsating game took another twist when United drew level just six minutes later.
Ramsdale spilled the ball from a United corner and Lisandro Martinez threw himself at it, looping a header into the net.
Arsenal regrouped and Saka hit the post in a near repeat of his goal as De Gea watched nervously.
De Gea made a fine save when Nketiah blasted at him from close range as the clock ticked down, with United unable to control the ball for sustained spells.
United were close to holding out for the draw but Arsenal took all three points when Nketiah scored his second of the afternoon as a lengthy VAR check ruled him onside.
“Like a pack of cards, the goals we conceded,” United coach Erik Ten Hag said post-game.
“In this moment, I am annoyed. I told the players. If they want to win trophies, titles, they can’t make these mistakes. You have to change the mentality.
“Two games back-to-back really close. It’s hard to accept that you lose in the last stage of the game.”
Haaland picks up fourth hat-trick! | 00:57
Luke Shaw, meanwhile, described it as a “bit of a reality check” for United while speaking to Sky Sports after the game.
“We deserved that in the second half,” he said.
“We were passive and let them control the game completely. To concede at the end is gutting but they are an extremely good side. We were fighting all the way to that last second – you need to concentrate for the entire game”
Former United captain turned pundit Roy Keane agreed with that assessment and turned the focus on Shaw and three of his teammates who he believes there are still question marks over.
“United have made progress but at the end of the game, I’m looking at Shaw still at left back – there are questions over him,” he said.
“Wan Bissaka, Fred, McTominay – it’s like Manchester United haven’t moved on from the problems in the past. I’m not blaming them as it was a tough game, give credit to Arsenal. It was a reality check. I still think United are well short.
“They were missing players today but a squad like United should be able to deal with it.”
‘INCREDIBLE’ HAALAND’S HAT-TRICK POWERS CITY TO VICTORY
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland’s fourth hat-trick in 19 Premier League appearances hauled Manchester City to a 3-0 win over Wolves.
Pep Guardiola got the reaction he was hoping for from the English champions after questioning their hunger to retain the title after Thursday’s 4-2 win over Tottenham.
The hosts had to come from 2-0 down in a dramatic second half against Spurs, but there was little mystery over the destination of the three points once Haaland had broken Wolves’ resistance five minutes before half-time.
Haaland’s scoring rate has slowed marginally in recent weeks, but his header from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross moved him level with the 23 league goals that saw Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min share the Golden Boot with last season.
The 22-year-old took his tally to 30 goals in all competitions from the penalty spot early in the second half after Ilkay Gundogan had been upended by Ruben Neves.
Wolves then gifted Haaland his hat-trick just four minutes later as goalkeeper Jose Sa presented the ball to Riyad Mahrez, who unselfishly squared for his teammate to roll into an unguarded net.
Guardiola quickly took the chance to give his star striker a rest as Haaland was replaced on the hour mark by Julian Alvarez to Wolves’ relief.
Speaking after the win, Guardiola hit back at suggestions Haaland would not adapt to City’s style of play.
“The numbers are incredible,” said Guardiola.
“He lives 24 hours for his profession, job, passion, love. He’s not stressed much when it’s going well or going bad. He is stable.
“When he played and scored, I don’t know many goals, he is the solution and everything of the team and when he does not score, he is the problem in our team.
“We know his quality. We know each other. He is not a player to be dropped. We can’t play the false nine with him. You have to adapt some movements with him and we are doing quite well.”
Rogue drone suspends match! | 00:44
City should still have inflicted further punishment on Julen Lopetegui’s men. Mahrez just failed to hold his run as he was flagged offside after dinking in De Bruyne’s through ball before Gundogan headed a glorious chance over.
Just a second league defeat since Lopetegui took charge leaves Wolves still outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Leeds edged one point clear of the bottom three, but remain without a league win since November after a 0-0 draw at home to Brentford.
David Raya denied the in-form Wilfried Gnonto with the best save of the game to salvage the Bees a point that moves them above Liverpool into eighth.
