Ronaldo Fires Brace as United Overcome Arsenal in Thrilling ClashRonaldo Fires Brace as United Overcome Arsenal in Thrilling Clash In a pulsating encounter at Old Trafford, Cristiano Ronaldo starred for Manchester United as they secured a 3-1 victory over Arsenal. The Portuguese superstar broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a clinical finish from close range after Marcus Rashford’s pass split the Arsenal defense. Just four minutes later, Ronaldo doubled United’s advantage with a stunning freekick that curled into the top corner. Arsenal responded well in the second half and pulled one back through Granit Xhaka’s powerful strike in the 58th minute. However, United’s defense held firm, and they sealed the victory in the 70th minute when Rashford pounced on a loose ball and slotted home. Ronaldo’s brace took his tally for the season to 12 in all competitions, while it was also his 50th goal for United at Old Trafford. The victory lifted United to fifth in the Premier League standings, while Arsenal remained eighth. Manager Erik ten Hag hailed Ronaldo’s performance, saying: “He is a true leader and sets an example for the younger players. His goals today were crucial, and I’m delighted for him.” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted that his team was second best on the day, but praised their resilience in the second half. “We were not at our best in the first half, but we showed character to come back in the second half. We created chances, but we were not clinical enough in front of goal,” he said. The victory was a welcome boost for United, who have struggled for consistency this season. It also ended a run of four consecutive defeats against Arsenal. Ronaldo’s performance was particularly impressive, and it will give United fans hope that he can continue to be a key player for the club going forward.
