Twitter Reacts: Manchester Utd Youngsters Defeat Arsenal 3-2 in Premier League

On any other day, Arsenal's visit to Old Trafford might be the big match of the day.

That wasn't necessarily the case on Sunday:

The Gunners travelled north to face Manchester United, and though the days of Martin Keown climbing all over Ruud van Nistelrooy might be a distant memory, there was still plenty to play for.

Manager Arsene Wenger's side could close the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just two points while the Red Devils—seemingly out of the title race already—could regain fifth place from West Ham United.

Perhaps more importantly, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal could stave off the same kind of speculation that follows every unfavourable result for his men.

But the Dutchman just couldn't shake his soundbite of the week...

Once more it was a scarcely recognisable Manchester United eleven, with midweek hero Marcus Rashford earning another start and Michael Carrick returning to the heart of defence.

"

Van Gaal must be slightly concerned about Carrick and Blind's lack of pace. Wenger isn't daft. Walcott and Welbeck in, Giroud on the bench.

— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonMEN) February 28, 2016"

Arsenal, meanwhile, left Olivier Giroud on the bench and started ex-Old Trafford hero Danny Welbeck at the top of the park.

The first moment of joy came when news filtered through that Swansea had taken the lead at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur...

But those cheers were promptly subdued when Rashford (yes, that Rashford again!) fired home shortly before half an hour to put the home side in front.

The youngster's fairytale just kept writing itself and within five minutes the 18-year-old had nodded home a second—his fourth goal in four days.

The Internet went into a wee bit of a meltdown:

"

Arsenal FC right now pic.twitter.com/pZkqpOahEY

— 7amkickoff (@7amkickoff) February 28, 2016"

Not that it came as a surprise to everyone.

Arsenal pulled one back before half-time thanks to Welbeck. The punchlines, well, they wrote themselves...

At the break, both north London clubs were behind, and, as it stood, it was Leicester who were the big winners of the day.

"

Spurs losing
Arsenal losing
Leicester City fans right now... #LCFC pic.twitter.com/rIyafXOyVj

— Football Tips (@footballtips) February 28, 2016"

A crucial half of football loomed for Arsenal:

Rashford went down injured early in the second half, and all of a sudden United fans weren't worried about a lack of depth...

Though we all had to turn to a search engine when Timothy Fosu-Mensah replaced Marcos Rojo 10 minutes after the break.

Theo Walcott came off after an hour and a solidly underwhelming performance:

And not long after, Ander Herrera doubled the advantage from outside the penalty area and with the aid of a deflection off Laurent Koscielny.

The assist? Who else but Rashford?

And just when all seemed lost for Arsenal, Mesut Ozil stabbed a finish past David de Gea. It was all on again...

...though that was about the time Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose combined to put Tottenham ahead back in London.

Time seemed to stand still when Van Gaal, so often criticised for his motionlessness on the touchline this season, imitated a dive while remonstrating with an official.

No, really.

"

PICTURE of the week pic.twitter.com/bmMpUR059t

— GeniusFootball (@GeniusFootball) February 28, 2016"

Try as they might, Arsenal couldn't break down Manchester United again, and the hosts held on to pick up three points, which edges them toward the top four.

It was an absolutely superb game of football that had it all; five goals, fairytale storylines and the United boss on his backside in the technical area.

The Gunners stay third in the league table, five points behind Leicester, ahead of Wednesday's visit by Swansea and with a North London derby looming on the horizon. 

Now, who's still hungry?

[Twitter]