Declan Rice Scores First Arsenal Goal In Dramatic Late Win Over Man United
Declan Rice scored the first goal of his Arsenal career on Sunday with a late strike in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
Rice - who joined Arsenal from West Ham for a club-record fee of £105 million in July - fired home via a deflection off Jonny Evans to put the Gunners 2-1 up in the sixth minute of added time.
Gabriel Jesus wrapped up a precious three points by scoring his first goal of the season five minutes later.
Declan Rice pictured celebrating after scoring his first ever Arsenal goal during a 3-1 win over Manchester United
IMAGO/PA Images/John Walton
Rice is not known for his goalscoring.
The defensive midfielder found the net just 15 times during 245 first-team appearances for West Ham.
But he controlled Bukayo Saka's deep corner kick with the composure of a seasoned striker. His finish was less convincing but a heavy touch off Evans helped him get the better of Andre Onana.
Rice's goal came just seven minutes after United thought they had won the game.
Alejandro Garnacho had slid a confident low finish past Aaron Ramsdale but a VAR review found that he had been marginally offside moments earlier.
Arsenal's win saw Mikel Arteta's side climb to fifth place in the EPL - four points ahead of United in 11th.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Rice said of his first Gunners goal: "It was such a special moment."
On the importance of getting three points, he added: "Man City have won four out of four. If we didn't win today, we would have been five points behind. To win that today was a must-win."
