FAN VIEW: Gunners up and running after late show

For 95 minutes on Sunday evening, it felt like another nearly game for Arsenal. Creating a few good moments, squandering them, and giving away a goal from some sloppy play.

Then for six minutes, it was pure joy as first Declan Rice scored his first Arsenal goal to put the Gunners ahead from a corner in the 96th minute, then Gabriel Jesus sat down Diogo Dalot and slotted the ball home in the final moments to seal an unforgettable 3-1 win.

You can analyse the tight decisions for the Kai Havertz miss-kick from 10 yards out, Bukayo Saka’s close-range miss, the overturned Arsenal penalty and the Alejandro Garnacho offside goal, but it all feels irrelevant.

After a good but not great start to the season, a late win over Manchester United could be just the catalyst to kickstart Arsenal’s season.

Time and time again last year’s comebacks and late goals kept this team going throughout the season, instilling belief in the squad.

Arsenal remain a young side and the emotion of beating a rival in stoppage time to come from behind will restore that same fire.

It was also a game which signified why Mikel Arteta went all out for Rice.

The big players turn up on the big stage and while he has been excellent in an Arsenal shirt, the moment of scoring a winner against United is exactly the type of moment he has been brought in for.

Jesus is another who typifies a player for the big occasion and his late goal is a great way to get his season rolling after knee surgery in pre-season.

At the back, Gabriel returned to the starting line-up alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko to restore Arsenal’s first-choice back line from last season, and the Brazilian proved his worth with a game-winning offside play to catch Garnacho out and deny what would have been a late winner for United.

Sunday was the type of win to spark a season to life.

The Gunners now face the international break, where Rice, Saka, Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah have been called up for England, before a trip to Goodison Park to face a struggling Everton side on Sunday week (September 17, 4.30pm).