Arsenal scored two corners to comfortably beat Manchester United, while Ruben Amorim suffered his first defeat in English football.

The damage was done by defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba as Arsenal took advantage of Liverpool’s loss of points to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Arsenal are in third place with 28 points, level with Chelsea and seven behind Arne Slot’s Reds.

The home side took the lead in the 54th minute when full-back Timber headed Declan Rice’s corner onto the near post.

The Gunners then almost doubled their lead when United’s Manuel Ugarte had to clear off the line after teammate Joshua Zirkzee took another corner from Rice.

Saliba secured the win when Thomas Partey headed Bukayo Saka’s corner against the French defender’s back and the ball went past Andre Onana in the United goal.

Arsenal have become a force to be reckoned with from set pieces under coach Mikel Arteta. Timber and Saliba’s goals mean they have scored 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League side.

Amorim’s United came into danger for the Arsenal goal when Diogo Dalot fired a shot past David Raya’s post in the first half, and the Arsenal keeper made an excellent save to deny Matthijs de Ligt in the second half.

Substitute Mikel Merino headed wide after another excellent Arsenal set-piece and Kai Havertz parried a shot from Onana, meaning the Gunners dominated the final stages of the game.

It meant Amorim, who had warned that a “storm” was brewing for United ahead of this game, was in north London to see his three-game unbeaten start come to an end.