United have now won two of their last eight Premier League games against Arsenal, having drawn three and lost fourManchester United's £82m new boy Antony scored on his debut and Marcus Rashford got two as Erik ten Hag's men ended Arsenal's 100% start to the season at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian opened the scoring 10 minutes before half-time in the pulsating duel, sweeping a shot into the far corner.
Rashford claimed the assist for that and then, after Bukayo Saka had levelled on the hour, the England striker profited from two clinical United counter-attacks.
Bruno Fernandes was at the heart of both, splitting the Arsenal defence for Rashford's first, then sending Christian Eriksen clear as the Dane provided the striker with a tap-in.
It was Rashford's first Premier League double since December 2020, helping lift them to fifth in the table.
Arsenal remain top. However, after their excellent start to the season, manager Mikel Arteta will be concerned at how easily his side were opened up, although the Gunners did have a first-half Gabriel Martinelli goal ruled out by VAR.
Antony the centre of attention
Having failed to prise Antony out of Ajax at the start of the summer and with the attempt to sign Ten Hag's first choice transfer window target Frenkie de Jong stalling, United went back for the Brazilian in the wake of those awful defeats to Brighton and Brentford at the start of the season.
Evidently, United were not in a strong bargaining position and the eventual price - the fourth highest sum ever paid by a Premier League club - is accepted by most to be significantly inflated.
Yet it is impossible to quantify financially how a positive attitude transfers to supporters.
It was clear, with his tricks and flicks and teasing of defenders, the 24-year-old is not short on confidence.
Referee Paul Tierney, who played an excellent advantage for the Brazilian's goal after Bruno Fernandes had been fouled in the build-up, had to warn him about his celebration in front of the Arsenal fans with the ball up his shirt.
Not long after that, Antony was upended from behind by Granit Xhaka. Had he connected with his immediate response, trying to slice Xhaka down from behind, the response from Tierney would almost certainly have been more than a ticking off.
The United fans loved it all. And while he lasted less than an hour before being replaced by Cristiano Ronaldo, Antony was afforded a standing ovation as he left the field.
However Antony's time at Old Trafford works out, it isn't likely to be dull.
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Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
1de Gea
20Dalot19Varane6Martínez12Malacia
39McTominay14Eriksen
21dos Santos8Bruno Fernandes25Sancho
10Rashford
1de Gea20Dalot19Varane6MartínezSubstituted forMaguireat 80'minutesBooked at 81mins12Malacia39McTominayBooked at 71mins14EriksenBooked at 90mins21dos SantosSubstituted forCristiano Ronaldoat 58'minutes8Bruno Fernandes25SanchoSubstituted forFredat 67'minutes10RashfordSubstituted forCasemiroat 80'minutesSubstitutes
2Lindelöf5Maguire7Cristiano Ronaldo17Fred18Casemiro22Heaton23Shaw31Dúbravka36ElangaArsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Ramsdale
4White12Saliba6Gabriel35Zinchenko
23Sambi Lokonga34Xhaka
7Saka8Ødegaard11Martinelli
9Gabriel Jesus
1Ramsdale4WhiteSubstituted forTomiyasuat 80'minutes12SalibaBooked at 24mins6Gabriel35ZinchenkoSubstituted forNketiahat 74'minutes23Sambi LokongaSubstituted forFerreira Vieiraat 74'minutes34Xhaka7SakaBooked at 87mins8ØdegaardSubstituted forSmith Roweat 74'minutes11Martinelli9Gabriel JesusBooked at 77minsSubstitutes
3Tierney10Smith Rowe14Nketiah16Holding17Cédric Soares18Tomiyasu21Ferreira Vieira27Oliveira Alencar30TurnerLive Text
Match ends, Manchester United 3, Arsenal 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester United 3, Arsenal 1.
Attempt saved. Fábio Vieira (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Granit Xhaka.
Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross.
Christian Eriksen (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.
Attempt missed. Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Scott McTominay.
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Casemiro (Manchester United).
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Fábio Vieira (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.
Attempt blocked. Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Harry Maguire (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Harry Maguire (Manchester United).
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