Mikel Arteta stayed up into the night to witness the thrilling finale of Chelsea’s extraordinary Premier League triumph over Manchester United.
Chelsea achieved the most delayed recovery in Premier League history with two goals in added time from Cole Palmer, leaving United devastated.
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After Conor Gallagher’s initial goal, Palmer’s penalty in the first half advanced Chelsea’s lead to 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. However, United staged a fierce comeback, taking the lead with two goals from Alejandro Garnacho and a header from Bruno Fernandes.
It seemed Manchester United would comfortably close out the game until Palmer’s 100th-minute penalty leveled the score, followed by a remarkable winning goal just 82 seconds later.
The concluding goals ignited ecstatic celebrations at Stamford Bridge, with Mauricio Pochettino, the beleaguered manager, exuberantly running along the touchline, and several United players collapsing in shock.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s championship adversaries, Liverpool, were also competing last evening against Sheffield United, with Arteta attentively monitoring both matches.
‘I was watching a bit of both to be fair and I stayed up until late because the Manchester United and Chelsea one, it was worth it and it was fantastic,’ the Gunners boss said.
‘It’s unbelievable the league that we are involved in. It’s just a joy that the level and the quality of the players and the show that they put in. It’s just fantastic.’
Arsenal’s team faced off against Luton Town in their midweek match on Wednesday, securing a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
While Chelsea’s position in the Premier League leaves them with minimal stakes, the win against United could serve as a motivational boost for the Blues, who have been facing challenges this season.
On the other hand, United’s crushing loss is a significant setback to their aspirations for a top-four finish, as the season’s end approaches and the gap to close on Aston Villa and Tottenham narrows.
Speaking after the dramatic victory, Pochettino said: ‘It was amazing. We were the better team today and it was fair we scored in the the last minute.
‘We started really well, 2-0 (up), the game was under control, then we made a mistake and suffered an emotional impact. It wasn’t easy to deal with. In the second half we controlled the game (but) conceded in transitions.
‘It was important to finish like that, creating the connection between our fans and players. It’s a very good thing that happened today. It should be a turning point for the fans’ trust in the team.’
