Manchester United beat Arsenal

Ronaldo passes 800-goal mark

December 04, 2021 00:00:00

MANCHESTER: Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring their third goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match against Arsenal here Thursday — AFP

MANCHESTER, Dec 03, (Reuters): Cristiano Ronaldo passed the 800-goal mark for club and country, scoring twice as Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-2 in an incident-packed Premier League match on Thursday.

United, with Michael Carrick on the bench as caretaker manager, were watched by their new interim manager Ralf Rangnick and after the match Carrick announced he was leaving the club.

Carrick, who said the decision was "100%" his own, was unbeaten in his three matches in charge of the team after taking over following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last month.

United's fans paid tribute to Solskjaer before the game with a banner in the Stretford End declaring "20-Legend" - a reference to the Norwegian's old shirt number.

But it was another legend, Ronaldo, who took centre stage during an end-to-end game.

Arsenal took the lead in bizarre fashion in the 13th minute when from a corner United keeper David De Gea went down clutching his foot after he was stood on by team mate Fred and Emile Smith Rowe drilled a shot into the unguarded goal from the edge of the box.

As referee Martin Atkinson had not blown his whistle before the ball went into the net and no foul had taken place, the goal stood.

United's protests were to no avail but they fought back on to level terms a minute before the interval through a Bruno Fernandes strike after a delightful back-heeled set-up from Fred.

Ronaldo put United in front in the 52nd when Diogo Dalot found Marcus Rashford on the right and the winger's low cross was clinically converted for the Portuguese forward's 800th goal.

The Gunners struck back quickly through Martin Odegaard who arrived on the edge of the box to guide home a fine low ball from Gabriel Martinelli.

But Ronaldo notched the winner from the penalty spot after Atkinson went to the pitchside monitor and ruled that Fred had been brought down by Odegaard.

United climbed to seventh in the table, two points and two places below Arsenal and a massive 12 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.