Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United: Premier League - as it happened

Well that is all we have time for on this Premier League live text.

We're back tomorrow night with Chelsea vs Middlesbrough as Antonio Conte's side aim to strengthen their grip on the title.

But until then, it's a very goodbye.

Full time: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

Arsene Wenger claims his first competitive win over Jose Mourinho at the 13th time of asking as Arsenal boost their Champions League hopes. Manchester United are probably playing for fifth now but they still have the Europa League as a fall-back. Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck were the difference with two goals in the space of four minutes.

McTominay shoots via, Rooney's deflection but Cech saves. Probably the last chance.

Rashford skins Hector Bellerin but it is Aaron Ramsey who gets a foot in. Arsenal are going to run out comfortable winners here.

Laurent Koscielny has been superb today and he prevents United getting one back when he clears Martial's cross, with Lingard prowling.

Some people have Sunday lunch to get to.

Scott McTominay on for his Manchester United debut for the final six minutes. He replaces Juan Mata.

Rooney again from range and again he misses the target. Three chances for the United skipper this afternoon and no goal for the skipper. On the ball he has looked laboured at best.

Coquelin replaces Xhaka with 15 minutes to go. A change that may have happened anyway, but enforced through injury. The Gunners go to Southampton on Wednesday.

Wayne Rooney curls wide and over Cech's goal in United's best opening for some 10 minutes. Granit Xhaka down for Arsenal to slow play down a little.

Mesut Ozil whips the ball across the six-yard box but it just evades Welbeck.

Petr Cech continues to win his duel with Rooney, pushing away his free-kick. Arsenal clear the subsequent corner.

United's 25-game unbeaten Premier League run is coming to an end unless they can turn this around. Marcus Rashford is on now with Ander Herrera replaced.

Danny Welbeck powers a header to down the lead.

Two changes on the hour mark for Manchester United as they search for a way back into this game. Jesse Lingard on for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, while Marcus Rashford's introduction is also imminent.

David de Gea is helpless as Arsenal take the lead through Granit Xhaka.

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United (Danny Welbeck)

Two goals in the space of three minutes puts Arsenal firmly in charge. Oxlade-Chamberlain crosses brilliantly and Welbeck rises and thumps a header in off the crossbar and beyond De Gea. Fine goal and the hosts have a firm grip of this game.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United (Granit Xhaka)

A game badly in need of a goal gets one in fortuitous circumstances. Granit Xhake lines one up from fully 30 yards and it takes a huge deflection off Herrera - who had turned his back on the ball - and it loops over David de Gea.

Really sluggish start to the second half. Not what we needed after the first end began to meander towards the end.

A message from the travelling Manchester United support.

Back underway at The Emirates. Some goals, please.

Players out for the second half in north London. Arsenal have been level at the break in their last two home games before going on to win. Can they make that three in a row?

Nearly ready to resume at The Emirates. It has not been a classic afternoon of Premier League football. No goals in one-and-a-half games. Surely it can only get better?

Half time: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United

A game with flashes of incident but no consistency or flow to it. United have has the best chance through Wayne Rooney, while Aaron Ramsey have twice gone close. Otherwise, this is very much fifth vs sixth.

Bit of a lull in the game it must be said as we approach half time. Not much in the game but Arsenal are posing the more regular threat.

Meanwhile, Andre Gray has rediscovered Twitter.

Wayne Rooney misses the chance to put United ahead.

Ball in the net for Arsenal but the offside flag is raised as Danny Welbeck brought the ball down. Looked on from the replay I must admit. One for Arsene Wenger to contest the end if the result goes against his side.

Rob Holding with an awful pass back and Rooney pounces but Cech makes the save. Best chance of the game by far but spurned by the skipper.

Alexis Sanchez is fuming with Aaron Ramsey as Arsenal threaten again. Arsenal get in behind through the Welshman but instead of picking out Sanchez he opts to finds welbeck and United clear.

Now a free almost picks out Ramsey and after Ozil keeps the move alive De Gea is forced to save from Oxlade-Chamberlain. Much better from the hosts who enjoy their best spell of the game.

Chance for Danny Welbeck against his former club but when he turns in the box United get the block in and it goes behind for a corner.

Arsenal seeing plenty of the ball but every time United get the ball back they look a threat. They break again and force a corner, with Rooney heading wide from Mata's cross.

Empty [paid-for] seats at The Emirates. Wonder if Mr Kroenke cares.

Mesut Ozil being man-marked by Matteo Darmian in the early stages.

Arsenal much improved from the opening couple if minutes. Danny Welbeck beats Phil Jones in the box but Ander Herrera covers to clear the danger. United defending with numbers whenever the hosts get the ball - perhaps a sign of things to come.

What a save from De Gea! Ozil plays Ramsey through, after Darmian switches off but the Welshman is denied by a full-length stop to the Spaniard's right.

Mkhitaryan and Rooney combine to set Martial free and he forces Cech into a good near-post save. Very open start to the game.

That chance followed an opening for Arsenal when Sanchez burst into the box but De Gea held his cross with Welbeck ready to take advantage of any slip.

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho shake hands before kick-off.

Juan Mata crosses and Wayne Rooney gets to the near post, flicking over the bar. Already more action that at Anfield in the first three minutes.

Anthony Martial leading the Manchester United attack from the off this afternoon. Wayne Rooney just off him it seems.

Underway at The Emirates Stadium. Let's hope for better than what we got at Anfield.

Arsene and Jose shake hands before kick-off. That is the pre-match pleasantries done and dusted. Game time.

Players in the tunnel at The Emirates. Almost ready to go in north London. It is kill or be killed territory in the battle for the Champions League.

Big day for Axel Tuanzebe on his full Premier League debut. Has to look after Alexis Sanchez this afternoon. Quite the introduction.

Arsene Wenger has never beaten Jose Mourinho in a competitive game. But he won;t have a better chance than today you feel, against an under-strength United side with eyes on Celta Vigo and due to their top four hopes hanging by a thread.

If Arsenal play with the passion of one of their former players, Nelson Vivas, then they should have no problem against Manchester United. Here is the Estuudiantes boss being sent off against Boca Juniors.

Jose Mourinho on Sky Sports: "I trust the players. I know they have desire but three of them have no played for six-seven weeks. To finish in the top four we need to win four matches, to win the Europa League we need to win two."

Jose Mourinho has rung the changes like we expected ahead of the Europa League in mid-week, giving Axel Tuanzebe his first Premier League start. Juan Mata also returns after having undergone surgery earlier in the campaign. Eight alterations in all. Is this a sign of the club's injury problems, or a message to the ownership?

What says a big game between two rivals in the Premier League better than a half-and-half scarf?

Full time at Anfield where Liverpool have left the door open for Arsenal and Manchester United by drawing with Southampton. Read all about the game here on our live blog.

A stat which highlights both of these side's failure this term. Plenty of second string players in there.

Two changes for Arsenal from the north London derby defeat to Tottenham. Rob Holding back in for Gabriel, Danny Welbeck replaces Olivier Giroud. Granit Xhaka does start.

United make eight changes from the win at Celta Vigo. Axel Tuanzebe starts at the back, Wayne Rooney in attack and David de Gea in goal. The likes of Pogba and Rashford are on the bench.

Teams are in from The Emirates....

Teams should be with us in around five minutes. Will Jose Mourinho play the kids? Can Arsene Wenger's side take advantage?

Spring has belatedly sprung across the UK today. Another sun-decked stadium, this time at Anfield.

Liverpool and Southampton are the pre-match entertainment ahead of the game at The Emirates. After a dull first half, you can follow the second period here.

Team news should be with us at the top of the hour, but how do we expect both sides to line up?

Granit Xhaka is a doubt for Arsenal after picking up a knock in training, but Shkodran Mustafi and David Ospina are back in training.

Ashley Young is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury as Jose Mourinho looks to rest a number of his star players ahead of facing Celta Vigo.

It might not hold the significance of previous years, but these two fallen giants have plenty to play for at The Emirates Stadium this afternoon. Both Arsenal and Manchester United are desperately fighting for a Champions League place, and while the latter does have the safety of the Europa League today remains a pivotal one in the top four battle.

Jose Mourinho is approaching the game with a lukewarm attitude however. Ready to drop players ahead of the semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo and prepared to put aside his war-of-words with Wenger; is that a reflection of the kind of contest we might get today. Meanwhile, after a listless display in the north London derby this is a must win for Arsenal if they have any ambition of making a late charge for fourth.

Team news and updates ahead of the 4pm kick-off on the way.