Man Utd win it late against Aston Villa; Arsenal hit West Ham for six | OneFootball

There were two fixtures on the Premier League calendar for Sunday. This is what happened.

Smash and grab for Man Utd at Villa

Scorers: Luiz 67′; Højlund 17′, McTominay 86′

Scott McTominay scored a late winner as Manchester United escaped Aston Villa with a 2-1 win that did not appear likely for large spells.

They had to ride their luck and had the excellent André Onana to thank as they weathered a great deal of pressure to pick up a Villa Park victory – only the second visiting team to do so this season in the league.

Erik ten Hag’s men took a 17th minute lead as the red hot Rasmus Højlund reacted quickest in the area to volley in following a set-piece from the right to make it five straight games in which he has found the net: the second youngest player ever to do so in the Premier League, after Nicolas Anelka.

But Villa responded well and came close to an equaliser through John McGinn but his blistering drive was well saved by Onana before bravely scrambling out to pull off another big intervention on Ollie Watkins.

Two minutes after half-time, the striker was again denied by Onana as his effort from point-blank range was again somehow kept out but on 67 minutes, the home side finally found the equaliser they deserved when Leon Bailey’s dangerous ball was turned in by Douglas Luiz.

However, somewhat against the run of play, United won it when their top scorer in the league this season, McTominay, was sprung from the bench and he thumped a fantastic header home to grab all three points.

With the win, United close the gap on Aston Villa in fourth – although Unai Emery’s side do still have a commanding eight-point advantage.

Arsenal hammer Hammers

Scorers: Saliba 32′, Saka (PEN) 40′ 63′, Gabriel 44′, Trossard 45+2′, Rice 65′

Arsenal produced one of their best performances of the season so far as they beat West Ham 6-0 at the London Stadium.

On his return to West Ham, Rice was named in the Arsenal XI with the north London side knowing that a win could take them level with Manchester City.

And despite leading the club to their first European trophy in over 50 years six months ago, Rice was booed for his every touch in the opening exchanges by the home crowd.

It was an edgy start to the game with the first real chance coming on 23 minutes as Leandro Trossard’s volley was saved brilliantly by Alphonse Areola.

The goal eventually came just after the half hour mark as William Saliba headed in from a corner.

Mikel Arteta’s side doubled their lead just a few moments later as Saka won a penalty after a foul by the goalkeeper and dispatched it himself from 12 yards.

This was turning into an absolute massacre as Gabriel nodded in the visitors third just before the break.

Amazingly, the goals weren’t done there with Arsenal getting a fourth in added time as Trossard curled one in from the edge of the area.

A raft of home fans made for the exit as the teams returned for the second half to an almost deathly silence inside the stadium.

Arsenal weren’t done with the goals however as Saka jinked his way into the penalty area finished with a fine left-footed strike.

Rice completed a brilliant afternoon for the former Hammer as he fired in a first time rocket to score the Gunners sixth.

The remaining game of matchweek 24 takes place on Monday with Chelsea’s visit to Crystal Palace.