Rashford, Spurs prevail to cut Arsenal adrift

The 18-year-old, who had scored twice on his debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday, also set up a goal for Ander Herrera as Louis van Gaal's side closed to within three points of the Champions League places.

Arsenal, who scored through Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil, were left five points below leaders Leicester City, while Tottenham Hotspur moved three points above them by coming from behind to beat Swansea City 2-1.

At Old Trafford, the extent of United's injury problems was laid bare by a starting XI that saw midfielder Michael Carrick line up at centre-back, while Manchester-born starlet Rashford led the line in the absence of injury victims Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial.

Arsenal, who made three changes from their 2-0 Champions League defeat by Barcelona, created the first chance, Ozil freeing Nacho Monreal for a shot that the fit-again David de Gea raced out to block, but it was the hosts who drew first blood in the 29th minute.

Gabriel, brought in for Per Mertesacker, failed to make proper contact as he attempted to clear Guillermo Varela's inviting right-wing cross and Rashford nervelessly placed the loose ball past Petr Cech.

The United faithful rose to acclaim their new hero and they were off their feet again less than three minutes later when Rashford met Jesse Lingard's cross with a well-directed downward header.

Rashford became the third-youngest player to score a Premier League goal for United, after Federico Macheda and Welbeck, and the latter returned to haunt his former club by reducing the arrears.

In a repeat of the formula that had yielded a last-gasp winner against Leicester two weeks ago, Ozil chipped a free-kick into the box and Welbeck stooped to head home. It was the German's 18th assist of the campaign.

Van Gaal tumble

United lost Marcos Rojo to an apparent ankle injury early in the first half, which saw 18-year-old Dutch defender Tim Fosu-Mensah come on for his club debut.

Wenger sent on Olivier Giroud for the ineffective Theo Walcott in the 63rd minute, but two minutes later United extended their lead.

Rashford rolled the ball into the path of Herrera, whose first-time curler from outside the box was deflected past Cech by the flying Laurent Koscielny.

Ozil gave Arsenal hope with 21 minutes left, following in to volley home after De Gea had parried from Welbeck.

LONDON: Teenage sensation Marcus Rashford took his tally to four goals in two games as Manchester United compromised Arsenal's Premier League title bid with a rousing 3-2 victory on Sunday.

But the hosts held firm and Van Gaal had the home fans roaring in their seats as he mimicked a dive to fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline in protest at what he felt was a piece of simulation by an Arsenal player.

United are now three points below fourth-place Manchester City, who were due to face Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley later in the day.

Tottenham, who began the day level on points with Arsenal, fell behind in the 19th minute at home to Swansea when Alberto Paloschi seized on Angel Rangel's deflected shot to score.

But Nacer Chadli turned in Kyle Walker's cross to equalise in the 70th minute and Danny Rose completed the comeback seven minutes later when he drilled home from distance following a corner.

Football: Man Utd starlet Rashford leaves Arsenal reeling

Teenage forward Marcus Rashford's dream start to life at Manchester United continued on Sunday as he scored two goals in his team's 3-2 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.

MANCHESTER: Teenage forward Marcus Rashford's dream start to life at Manchester United continued on Sunday (Feb 28) as he scored two goals in his team's 3-2 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.

The win represented Louis van Gaal's third victory, in three competitions, over the past six days, but more signficantly, damaged Arsene Wenger's hopes of winning Arsenal's first league title in 12 years.

The 18-year-old forward, who scored twice in the mid-week Europa League victory over FC Midtjylland, was on the mark again in an astonishing first half in which he beat Petr Cech on two occasions.

To make his impact all the more stunning, the goals came within three minutes of each other as United delivered a serious blow to Wenger's aim of narrowing the five-point advantage that leaders Leicester City held before kick-off.

After 29 minutes, Ander Herrera started a move with a telling tackle on Theo Walcott, sparking a counter-attack that ended with Guillermo Varela crossing from the right and Gabriel hacking a poor clearance directly to Rashford.

The teenager did the rest with a composed finish from a dozen yards, the first shot of his Premier League career resulting in his first goal.

Arsenal's poor defending was badly exposed in that attack and worse was to follow from the next serious foray into their territory with Varela again influential, making an important header that kept the ball in play.

Jesse Lingard received the ball and picked out Rashford, who had again slipped his marker Gabriel, and the youngster planted a perfect header past the diving Cech.

Wenger looked stunned on the Arsenal bench, a mood reflected by his players, although his side were able to pull an important goal back before the interval, predictably through the former United striker Danny Welbeck.

Mesut Ozil was the architect with an inch-perfect free-kick from midway inside the United half and Welbeck, who eluded his marker Marcos Rojo too easily, guided a header past David de Gea from 10 yards.

HERRERA ON TARGET

The goals were the highlight of a thrilling first half in which Nacho Monreal should have given the visitors the lead after just seven minutes when he chased Ozil's through-ball into the area and was denied well by De Gea.

Rashford won a free-kick inches outside the area after a trip by Gabriel, with Memphis Depay's low set-piece being well held by Cech, while Alexis Sanchez replied for Arsenal with a snapshot that flew narrowly wide.

The entertainment continued after the restart as United sought to continue a remarkable run of close to 250 Premier League home games in which they have led at half-time and not lost.

Morgan Schneiderlin saw a shot blocked from a home corner and Cech needed two attempts to keep out Depay's long-range shot as Arsenal toiled, prompting Wenger to bring on Olivier Giroud just after the hour in place of the ineffective Walcott.

But the next attack brought United a precious third goal, in the 65th minute, with Rashford again involved as he held up Juan Mata's through ball before laying it back to Herrera just outside the area.

The Spanish midfielder's crisp shot might have been saved by Cech, but a strong deflection off Laurent Koscielny gave the diving Arsenal goalkeeper no chance.

Again, Arsenal responded, from Sanchez's right-wing cross on 69 minutes, which found Welbeck on the six-yard line for a shot that was blocked by De Gea.

The rebound fell kindly for Ozil, who showed predictably superb technique in keeping a bouncing ball down and driving it past the diving De Gea from 15 yards.

Herrera and Aaron Ramsey were cautioned for a scuffle as tempers became frayed and Van Gaal argued with the fourth official, throwing himself to the ground theatrically to make a point. But apart from half-chances for Giroud and Kolscielny, both of whom missed with headers, there was little further goalmouth action.