Nigerian international Alex Iwobi could do little to salvage situation as his Arsenal side fell to a 3-1 loss at home to Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

The Super Eagles attacker who initially started on the bench was introduced just 15 minutes in after Shkodran Mustafi pulled up with an injury, with The Red Devils already two goals to the good.

Manchester United have failed to win in their last three visits to the Emirates Stadium but found the Gunners a tad more pliable this time, Paul Pogba prancing into the box as early as the 4th minute to set up Antonio Valencia who applied a deft finish to beat Peter Cech.

Arsenal's nondescript defending would haunt them again seven minutes later, with Jese Lingard getting onto the end of a swift attack involving Pogba and Anthony Martial to apply another consummate finish, leaving Arsene Wenger's side staring defeat in the face with barely 11 minutes played.

Alexandre Lacazette halved the deficit on resumption of the second period, Aaron Ramsey knocking down a lofted pass for the Frenchman to tuck home in the 49th minute.

The tide of the game was soon turned in the favour of the hosts, Iwobi and Lacazette stinging David DeGea with ferocious shots as Arsenal seized the game by the scruff and largely teased a comeback.

But Manchester United calmed nerves of such with a third goal three minutes past the hour mark following another breakaway between Pogba and Jese Lingard, the club's record signing outwitting Laurent Koscielny in the box to square for Lingard who tapped in unmarked.

The French midfielder would receive his marching orders late on for an insipid stamp on Hector Bellerin but that was just about what was left in the game as Jose Mourinho's side saw out the victory.

Arsenal's Chuba Akpom was not selected for the encounter and so was Manchester United's Matthew Olosunde and Tosin Kehinde.

Manchester United cut the gap to their city rivals lead at the top to five points with the win, having accrued 35 points from their fifteen games while Arsenal remain in fifth with 28.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : arsenal.com