Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League as Leandro Trossard's goal proved enough to inflict further misery on ailing Manchester United.
Manchester City temporarily usurped the Gunners with their win at Fulham on Saturday lunchtime, meaning Mikel Arteta’s men could ill afford any kind of slip up at Old Trafford.
United made Arsenal sweat more than most predicted on Sunday, when Trossard’s tap-in after Casemiro’s latest defensive error secured a 1-0 win in their penultimate match of their season.
City will go back top of the pile if they win their game in hand at Tottenham on Tuesday but this result ensures the Premier League title race will go down to the final day.
Arsenal were far from their best at Old Trafford, where makeshift centre-back Casemiro's slowness to push out and then react to having played Kai Havertz onside led to Trossard’s first-half winner.
Andre Onana prevented Arsenal from adding anymore as absentee-ravaged United pushed for an equaliser that was beyond under-fire Erik ten Hag’s side.
It was their 14th loss of a poor Premier League campaign and a ninth home defeat in all competitions – the joint most in the club's history – further denting their hopes of European qualification with two to play before the FA Cup final against Manchester City on 25 May.
Trossard was pleased Arsenal did their job but hopes they can celebrate by winning the league next week.
He told Sky Sports: "We stuck together, defended well and did what we had to do.
"We were looking for the second goal and you know when it doesn't come it’ll be tough, second half especially with the atmosphere; they are a good team and they can hurt you in many ways so credit to the boys.
"There’s only one objective and that’s to win the league. We have done our job today and now it goes to the last game and that’s what we were aiming for and hopefully next week we can celebrate."
Kai Havertz set up Leandro Trossard for Arsenal's winner in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United and knows how important the three points were, despite the title-chasers not playing at their best.
"To play here is always tough and we prepared the game very well.
"We didn’t play our best game but we needed the three points and we got that now", he told Sky Sports.
"It feels nice to go in every game and we have to win every game because (Manchester) City are keeping the pressure on and it’s so nice to be in the race and every week you have to play your best and win games and when you do it, it feels better.
"It’s one game to go and we need everyone next week, the whole club, the fans."
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