Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said Monday there is a way for the team to keep stars Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez and stay below Major League Baseball's competitive balance tax, but it will be tough.

"There is a way, but obviously it will be difficult given the nature of the agreements and the contracts we have in place," Kennedy said Monday at Fenway Park.

"We have a very targeted and strategic plan that we're building now. Some of the dates related to contract decisions come right after the World Series. So we've had some time in September to focus on the offseason given where we were in the standings," he said. "It is going to be a challenging offseason, but we're ready to attack it head-on and do everything we can to put a competitive team out there not just for next year but 2021, 2022."

On Friday, owners John Henry and Tom Werner met with reporters and said they were prepared to cut payroll to get under the luxury-tax threshold next season. Boston has had baseball's highest payroll for two consecutive seasons, exceeding the competitive balance threshold of $208 million in both. If the Red Sox exceed the threshold for a third straight season, their taxes would go up astronomically.

"We need to be under the CBT," said Henry, the team's controlling owner.

Kennedy backed off that some on Monday, saying that is merely a "guidepost."

"We will continue to demonstrate a willingness to go over the CBT,'' Kennedy said. "It is going to be a challenging offseason, but we are going to attack it.''

Betts, a homegrown talent, has one year left on his rookie deal and declined any overtures from the Red Sox to sign an extension before the season. The outfielder is likely headed to arbitration in the offseason. The Red Sox and Betts -- who turns 27 next week -- agreed to a one-year, $20 million deal before this season to avoid arbitration, the largest amount given to a second-time arbitration-eligible player.

"We absolutely love Mookie Betts as a player, as a person," Kennedy said. "We've gotten to know his family. You hope that he's a guy that is here for the long term."

Kennedy said he took no offense at the idea that Betts might like to test the free-agent market.

"I think it speaks to Mookie's confidence and how special of a player he is," Kennedy said. "He really does love it here. He told me he loves it here. ... You can see with the joy and energy and enthusiasm in which he approaches playing baseball at Fenway Park -- the fans love him."

Martinez, a middle-of-the-lineup force for the past two seasons, can opt out of the final three years of his contract this winter. Martinez, 32, needs to make his decision by five days after the World Series. Kennedy said the team is in wait-and-see mode and has not engaged in any specific discussions about his plans.

"You want J.D. Martinez in the middle of your lineup," Kennedy said. "He's a world champion and was a key part of last year's success, so we will see where it goes in the future."

With no playoffs, the Red Sox -- who fired general manager Dave Dombrowski on Sept. 8 -- embark right away on an offseason that will be full of difficult decisions.

In addition to the money it would cost to keep Betts and Martinez, the Red Sox also have $79 million a year tied up in contracts for starting pitchers David Price, Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi.

Even the players seemed to be resigned to the departure of Betts, the 2018 MVP.

"I think everyone knows we don't think they're going to be able to afford Mookie," Martinez told reporters Sunday. "It's one of those things. It's kind of hard to have three guys making $30 million on your team. He deserves it. He's earned it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein on Monday outlined the qualities he wants to see in his next manager, and confirmed that former catcher David Ross is among the team's "broad list" of candidates.

"We haven't called to ask for permission on anybody," Epstein said during an 80-minute news conference Monday, a day after the club announced it would not retain Joe Maddon. "We're full speed ahead. We're not going to drag this out any longer than it needs to be, but we're also going to be thorough."

Epstein stressed that the Cubs want to look forward not backward, downplaying Ross' connection to the team's past.

"David Ross has a lot of great things going for him," Epstein said of the World Series-winning catcher. "His connection to the players on this team, and especially his connection to the 2016 team, are not necessarily assets that distinguish him or are important to us. ... Ross is an attractive candidate, and he's going to be evaluated on the merits."

Ross, currently an ESPN analyst, said Sunday that he is interested in the job.

Without naming names, Epstein said the Cubs are interested in at least one member of a playoff team's staff and will look internally, as well. Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Cubs bench coach Mark Loretta and former big leaguer and current Cubs catching coordinator Mark Johnson could be candidates for the job.

Epstein wouldn't comment on former Cubs catcher Joe Girardi's status as a candidate. He also was delicate while speaking in regard to Maddon's legacy with the Cubs.

"Please don't take anything I say as far as what we're looking for [in] a manager, at this moment in time, as any kind of critique at Joe [Maddon] because it's not," Epstein said. "He was the perfect guy for this team at the perfect time.

"It's going to be important for the next manager to find a way to foster a team identity. Our routines tended to be more individualized. There wasn't a lot of work as a team. I think it's going to be important for this group to work as a team.

"At this moment in time, with this group, I think accountability is important. We were pretty mistake-prone this year. The next manager should be part of this. Helping to create a culture of accountability."

The Cubs led the majors in outs made on the bases and in errors this season, leading some outside the organization to believe that a firmer hand might be needed from the manager.

"You want to make sure you don't end up with the candidate that interviews the best," Epstein said. "You want to end up with the candidate who is going to be the best manager.

"Picking priorities and values to emphasize work is going to be important. For this group, at this time, we need to find a way to create a culture that compels every player to push himself to be the absolute best version of himself."

Though he gave some details, Epstein backed off diving further into his ideal qualifications for the Cubs' next manager.

"I don't want to answer too specifically," he said. "If I get into a long list of specifics, then every managerial candidate that comes in will list every single specific that we say and think they aced the interview process."

The Cubs finished 84-78 this season and did not extend Maddon's contract after five years. Almost by default, the Cubs are likely to hire someone with less experience, which could affect the decision.

"It's something you have to consider," Epstein said. "Lack of experience is a factor. It's not the determining factor."

Kenyan breaks championship best to take title in Doha

Two years ago, Beatrice Chepkoech lost direction during the London world 3000m steeplechase final and had to run back for the water jump. She also fell heavily but still finished fourth.

This time in Doha, the world record-holder made no mistake, blasting into an early lead which she then held all the way to the finish.

The Kenyan’s first kilometre was a vicious 2:52.95, which represents 8:38 pace for the full distance compared to her world record of 8:44.32.

At this stage she had five seconds on the chasing pack which became six seconds with four to go and nine a lap later.

Not surprisingly, she could not hold the world record tempo but it was still something special as she went through 2000m in 5:55.28 with a similar margin and her lead was 10 seconds with 800m to go.

On the penultimate lap, defending champion Emma Coburn began to pick up the pace herself to stretch the chasing pack and at last the gap began to close. The Kenyan hit the bell in 7:47.21, just under seven seconds clear.

With Coburn closing and full of running, but not enough to ever look like she could defend the title, she herself looked a safe second until at the last water jump European champion Gesa Krause took it much better than Winfrid Yavi and menacingly closed on Coburn.

However, nothing changed in the finishing straight.

Chepkoech strode to victory in 8:57.84, a championship record and a time that only her and former world record-holder Ruth Jebet have ever bettered.

Coburn finished superbly and her 9:02.35 was a PB by just 0.23 of a second, her previous PB being the old championship record.

A delighted Krause improved her German record from 9:07.51 to 9:03.30 to go ninth all-time while teenager Yavi went 11th with a 9:05.68 PB.

Further back there was an impressive Danish record for St Mary’s-based Anna Moller (9:13.46) in seventh and an Albanian one for Luiza Gega of 9:19.93 in ninth.

Gemili impresses in 200m semi-finals

Adam Gemili was a very impressive winner of the first semi-final of the men’s 200m, though he was the only one of the three highly-rated Brits who will run in tomorrow’s final.

The Blackheath and Bromley athlete probably ran his greatest ever bend and entered the straight well over a metre clear. He did slightly tighten in the last 30 metres but his 20.03 was the fourth best of his career.

Defending champion Ramil Guliyev, covered in strapping, was a well beaten second in 20.16.

“I feel good. I feel confident,” said Gemili. “I just wanted to go out there and put in a bit more effort than yesterday. I am still not firing 100 per cent but I am getting there. I wanted to win that semi and get a good lane for the final. I’ve been saying it for years, once you get in the final anything can happen. For me, I am going to run to the best of my ability.”

The second semi was faster as world leader Noah Lyles won in style in 19.86, pursued hard by Ecuadorian Pan American champion Alex Quinonez who showed he is also a genuine medal threat with second in 19.95.

Zhenye Xie ensured a fastest losers spot with 20.03 as Miguel Francis, so impressive in the heats, withdrew from the race with a quadricep injury sustained in the first round.

The 100m bronze medallist Andre De Grasse won the final semi comfortably in 20.08 with Kyle Greaux (20.24) finishing strongly to pass a fading Zharnel Hughes, who ran 20.30 which proved insufficient for time qualification.

The fastest man in the field, Yohan Blake, faded even more dramatically and the 19.26 performer ran 20.37 in sixth.

The women’s 200m heats underlined Britain’s growing medal chances and saw qualification for all three British athletes.

Just 18 hours after becoming the 100m silver medallist, Dina Asher-Smith was back in action and looked mightily impressive and was fastest.

She looked in full control in heat four and despite looking in second gear, strode to a 22.32 victory, two metres up on Dezerea Bryant’s 22.56.

Anthonique Strachan had won a weakened heat one in 22.86 after defending champion Dafne Schippers and 100m bronze medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou both withdrew.

The second heat was closer and faster and saw a win for Ivet Lalova-Collio in 22.79 just ahead of Jodie Williams on 22.80 and Mujinga Kambundji’s 22.81.

American women sprinters disappointed in the 100m but Brittany Brown won the third heat in a PB 22.33 from an eased back Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, who ran 22.61.

The fifth heat saw a very fast finish from Niger’s Aminatou Seyni, who went from fifth to first in the last 40 metres and won in a national record 22.58 just ahead of Tatjana Pinto’s 22.63.

Blessing Okagbare, so impressive in defeating Thompson and Asher-Smith in the Diamond League in Stanford in 22.05, slowed near the end and was only fourth across the line and outside automatic qualification but she was disqualified for a lane infringement.

Anglerne Annelus won the sixth heat by four metres in 22.56, four metres ahead of Carolle Zahi’s 22.99. Beth Dobbin did not look at her very best at this stage and was third in 23.14, the 23rd fastest of the 24 qualifiers.

In the women’s 400m heats, both Britons qualified.

Defending champion Phyllis Francis was an easy winner of heat one in 50.77.

Heat two also went America’s way as Wadeline Jonathas won in 50.57 from Shericka Jackson’s 51.13.

After her mixed relay duties, Emily Diamond was fifth in a season’s best 51.66 which qualified her by time as 51.85 got the slowest of the six fastest losers spots.

It looked as if it was three out of three for the USA as Shakima Wimbley won comfortably in 51.17 but she was later disqualified for a brief collision with the line. She was reinstated on appeal as second place went to Iga Baumgart-Witan, who had run the previous day’s relay.

For most of the race, Laviai Nielsen looked in full control but she tied up near the end and seemed to stumble in her last few strides and she finished second in 51.52.

Botswanan Galefele Moroko won heat four in a PB 50.59.

Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo won heat five at a canter in 51.30, and though only ninth fastest, looked like she could go quite a few seconds quicker.

The sixth heat saw two others who had already run in the mixed relay heats and final to the fore and 2017 London runner-up Salwa Eid Naser won easily in 50.74 from Justyna Swiety-Ersetic’s 51.34.

In the 110m hurdles, world and Olympic champion Omar McLeod won heat one in 13.17 while former champion Sergey Shubenkov won heat two in 13.27.

World ranked No.2 Daniel Roberts seemingly won heat three in style but he was later disqualified as not only did he destroy his own hurdle, his leg went into the next lane and brought the hurdle of Ruan de Vries’ down before he got there leaving the South African to hurdle the air. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde won the heat in the American’s absence in 13.45 with world indoor champion Andrew Pozzi, still not looking at his sharpest, second in 13.53 and only 18th fastest in the round.

Roberts’ collegiate rival and top-ranked Grant Holloway impressed in heat five winning easily in 13.22 though the quickest was Orlando Ortega who won heat six in 13.15. 13.60 proved sufficient to qualify by time.

Check out the dedicated Doha 2019 section on our website here.

Muktar Edris beats team-mate Selemon Barega to world title in Doha after Jakob Ingebrigtsen makes bold bid for gold

Two years ago Muktar Edris beat Mo Farah to the world 5000m title in London and this time the Ethiopian overcame the challenge of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, not to mention his fast-finishing team-mate Selemon Barega, to successfully defend his crown.

Returning from injury and a summer of mediocre results, Edris hit top form on Monday night in Doha as he sped away from Barega to win in 12:58.85 as Mohammed Ahmed of Canada was third and Telahun Haile Bekele of Ethiopia fourth.

Ingebrigtsen, who turned 19 last month, made a long run for home with 300m to go but began to tie up around the final bend and his legs turned to lead in the home straight although he dramatically hurled himself at the line to snatch fifth place from Jacob Kiprop of Kenya.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen in demand in the media zone after his epic 5000m effort. Norwegian finished the race with plenty of cuts on his legs and no medal but he's still smiling. #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/ZSu4VkVkPC

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 30, 2019

Edris celebrated by doing Farah’s trademark Mobot pose, just as he did when he out-kicked the Briton at London 2017. The 25-year-old later revealed his team-mates shared the pace early on to soften their rivals up.

Finishing with cuts and bruises all over his legs, Ingebrigtsen was in good spirits afterwards, however. The Ethiopians were also all smiles although they know they probably haven’t seen the last of the prodigious teenager from Norway.

No heartbreak for Swede this time as he savours a thoroughly dominant discus victory in Doha

Daniel Stahl lost the world discus title in 2017 by just two centimetres to Andrius Gudzius then also finished runner-up to the Lithuanian at the European Championships last summer.

The Swede was not to be denied in Doha, however, as he dominated from start to finish to become his country’s first global gold medallist in the event. It was his third-round throw of 67.59m which made sure he would finish on top of the podium but he was the only competitor to clear the 67-metre mark on the night.

The 27-year-old, who went equal fourth on the world all-time list when threw 71.86m earlier this year, simply couldn’t contain himself after victory was confirmed, charging on to the infield in celebration.

As expected, Jamaican Fredrik Dacres got closest with a second-round 66.94m which won silver, his first senior global medal, while an historic bronze went to Lukas Weisshaidinger of Austria – he becomes his nation’s first ever male world medallist –thanks to his third-round 66.82m.

Gudzius, who has not been at his best this year, could only manage a second-round 61.55m before retiring after a third-round failure.

Victory was sweet for Stahl, who said: “This is historic for Sweden. I am really happy to win the first global gold for my country in the discus. I have been fighting for this for many years. I am speechless now.

“This year has been about hard work, improving my technique and travelling around the world and winning a lot of meets. I had two goals: to make it to the final and then win gold. I will now take two weeks off and continue the hard work. Tokyo is only 10 months away.”

Huihui leads the way in javelin

In women’s javelin qualifying, Chinese world leader Lu Huihui threw furthest with a distance of 67.27m from Germany’s European champion Christin Hussong (65.29m) in Group B.

Liu Shiying of China was third overall, topping Group A with 63.48m, while Czech defending champion Barbora Spotakova qualified in third from Group B thanks to a throw of 62.15m.

Russian wins third world title on trot after being pushed by teenage talent Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine

Mariya Lasitskene’s reign as queen of the high jump continued in the Qatari capital on Monday as she jumped 2.04m to take her third consecutive world title. But a great contest saw her challenged by Ukrainian prodigy Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who broke the world under-20 record twice with 2.02m and 2.04m.

Lasitskene won courtesy of her perfect record up to 2.04m, whereas Mahuchikh failed several heights during the evening, including her first two tries at 2.04m.

Lasitskene, who competes as an authorised neutral athlete, attempted 2.08m as well in an effort to get the Russian record, but her failures at that height were her only blips of the night.

Asked how she recovered from a rare defeat at the recent United States versus Europe match in Minsk, Lasitskene said: “I have already forgotten about that competition as it didn’t make me happy. I was asked to listen to my coach and everything would be okay. I listened to everything – and I won – but I struggled today for every jump.”

Why did she struggle? Lasitskene suggested her technique was not perfect but added: “The main thing is that the bar stays on the uprights.”

Mahuchikh only turned 18 on September 19 and the reigning Youth Olympics champion enjoyed a breakthrough performance as she improved her PB of 2.00m twice.

“I had two personal bests and if my coach (Tetyana Stepanova) didn’t support me then I don’t think I would have done it,” she said.

“Always we finish after my PB but after 2.02m I wanted to improve,” she said. “My coach said ‘jump and believe in yourself’.”

High jump 1-2-3 Mariya Lasitskene, Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Vashti Cunningham. #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/kXbLGVUIab

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 30, 2019

Lasitskene missed the Olympics in Rio and on next year’s Tokyo Games she said: “I just want to enjoy my day today and enjoy it to the full. Of course the Olympics preparation is going on and this was one step in the process.”

Vashti Cunningham of the United States placed fourth with a PB of 2.00m while Yuliya Levchenko, the Ukrainian who won The Match in Minsk, was fourth, also with 2.00m.

There’s no world record but Norwegian storms his way to successful defence of his 400m hurdles title in Doha

When Karsten Warholm screamed his way into the global athletics consciousness with his gold medal-winning performance in the London rain, he took everyone by surprise.

This time, in Doha, the world was watching and the Norwegian had a sizeable target on his back but still he found a way to finish first.

There was no world record in what had been one of the most eagerly awaited races of these championships, given that it featured three of the four fastest men in history, but instead came a convincing win for Warholm in a time of 47.42 ahead of his biggest foes this year.

“I was thinking only about the gold medal.” Karsten Warholm – two-time world 400m hurdles champion ?? #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/6sG2WQ2hE4

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 30, 2019

American Rai Benjamin clocked 47.66 for silver and Qatari Abderrahman Samba was cheered to bronze in 48.03 by the home support who had remained for the evening’s final event at the Khalifa Stadium.

Both Benjamin, who admitted to having seriously considered pulling out of the race recently following a fall in training three weeks ago which left him with a badly bruised bone, and Samba (hamstring) have had injury worries to deal with this year yet still Warholm was pushed all the way.

This was certainly no easy task for the 23-year-old.

After Warholm’s European record-breaking run of 46.92 in Zurich back in August, and the personal best of 46.98 which Benjamin and Samba both share, hopes of a fast race had been high.

That certainly appeared to be on the defending champion’s mind given that, once the now customary pre-track final light show had been completed, he reacted first to the gun and set off like a rocket.

Here
We
Go#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/XZU9uGqFXj

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 30, 2019

Benjamin was with him, however, while Turkish 2017 silver medallist Yasmani Copello and Commonwealth champion Kyron McMaster were also in the medal hunt.

Warholm began to exert some pressure, however, and create a lead entering the final straight that he was not to relinquish. When Benjamin stumbled over the final hurdle, the destination of the gold medal was settled.

Samba left it late to charge for the line but his closing surge was enough to edge out McMaster by 0.07 of a second, while Copello (48.25) faded to sixth and American TJ Holmes was fifth in 48.20.

Comment from 400m hurdles champion Karsten Warholm and reaction from bronze medallist Abderrahman Samba ? which gets a laugh from the press conference crowd #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/5hdu4Dn8UI

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 30, 2019

One of Warholm’s trademarks is his evident confidence, however he did admit to some pre-race nerves.

“It’s easy to say afterwards that this was going to happen but I wasn’t too sure, to be honest,” he said. “This was a very hard race. I had a pain in my chest, I thought I was going to die but here I am world champion. This is only the beginning for all of us.

“Tomorrow I’ve got to get up and work again. Norway is only a small country so to be showing up on the world stage is amazing.”

Benjamin’s performance was all the more creditable given his interrupted build-up and he said: “ It’s been hard for me but in the rounds I just sucked it up and in the end I got a silver medal. I wanted gold but I was just happy to be out there. We were all chasing the world record and I chopped at three or four hurdles. It just wasn’t the moment.”

CONCORD, N.C. – Picking up his second victory of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Shawn Langdon was already riding high on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Things could be about to get even better for the former Top Fuel world champ and current Funny Car standout as he heads to the location of his first victory in the Funny Car class.

Langdon broke through in Charlotte earlier this year, winning the four-wide race in his 11,000-horsepower Global Electronic Technology Toyota Camry to grab his first victory in the new class. Langdon earned his first Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship Funny Car win on Sunday in St. Louis, which only adds to the confidence Langdon is feeling as he returns to state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway for a second time this year for the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals, Oct. 11-13. Coming off the victory, Langdon’s mindset is simple heading to the halfway point of the playoffs.

“My thoughts are let’s try to win (in Charlotte) and get into the top five,” Langdon said. “It’s just following (team owner) Connie Kalitta’s vision. He’s just got so much passion and it just flows through the organization. I love racing for the guy. He’s a great motivator and leader, and we just follow his vision. It’s just really one joint effort. We’ve got four great cars and teams, and it’s a great feeling to be a part of it.”

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event. It is the third of six races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, and the 21st of 24 races during the NHRA season, and Langdon may have turned things around at the perfect time.

Competing in his second year in Funny Car, Langdon and his team, led by co-crew chiefs Del Worsham and Nick Boninfante, got off to slow playoff start, opening the playoffs in ninth and falling in the opening round in Reading. That put the onus on performing well in St. Louis if the team wanted to salvage a strong year, and Langdon came through in impressive fashion. He had a memorable come-from-behind win in the second round, slipped past Bob Tasca III to move into the final and then beat Kalitta Motorsports teammate and defending world champ J.R. Todd in the final round, keeping visions alive of a big finish.

“It was a great morale booster for the whole team,” said Langdon, who moved to seventh in points. “We felt like we’ve had a car that’s been capable of winning for a while now, we just seemed to be running into the buzz saw and the low ETs of every round. We felt like we just needed that one round to turn it around. I felt like we had a big day (Sunday). The car was flawless for me to drive.”

Langdon still needs more wins if he wants to compete for a title, which makes returning to Charlotte a good thing. He impressed in the spring and will look to do so this fall, but it won’t be easy in a loaded class. Points leader Robert Hight leads Langdon by 80 points, while he will also have to get past the likes of 16-time world champ John Force, Jack Beckman, Tasca and defending event winner Capps. But Langdon was thrilled with how the team responded under duress in St. Louis, and he’s hopeful it’s a sign of what’s to come to finish the season.

“Any time you can get a win in the Funny Car class it builds momentum, especially early (in the Countdown),” said Langdon, who has 16 career wins. “From the situation we were in, starting the Countdown in ninth place, there’s not a lot of room for error. Then just having a bad race in Reading and dropping to tenth, we had to make some big changes for St. Louis. If we didn’t make the finals (on Sunday), we weren’t going to have a shot (at a title).”

Arsenal recovered from going a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Monday, but their 13-year wait for a Premier League win at Old Trafford continues following a match that was short on quality.

Positives

The Gunners looked much more secure defensively, with Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz largely untroubled, and it was another impressive showing from youngster Bukayo Saka, who looked a real danger out wide.

Negatives

Unai Emery's side will feel they had enough openings to win the game, but unfortunately for them, they lack a real cutting edge outside of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Manager rating out of 10

6 -- Emery's defensive work on the training field paid off with a solid display, but the Spaniard will be tempted to change things up in midfield as they continue to lack creativity at the heart of the pitch.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Bernd Leno, 6 -- Dealt smartly with a decent strike by Andreas Pereira as the first half reached the midway point, but could only watch as Scott McTominay's stunning strike sailed into the top corner for 1-0. A great one-handed save denied Harry Maguire a superb winner in the second half, and the German palmed away Marcus Rashford's late free kick.

DF Calum Chambers, 7 -- Given a yellow card for a foul in the opening 10 minutes and the former Southampton man looked set for a tough evening against the slippery Daniel James, but he recovered superbly and was untroubled for the remainder. Provided a solid option on the overlap when Nicolas Pepe drifted centrally.

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DF Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 6 -- A much better showing from the Greece international. Made life difficult for Rashford during a swift United getaway in the first half, in what was a much more authoritative display than in recent weeks.

DF David Luiz, 6 -- The Brazilian will be a relieved man after McTominay failed to punish the centre-back's poor positioning at a United corner as the midfielder headed over with the goal at his mercy in the second half.

DF Sead Kolasinac, 6 -- Didn't venture forward as much as in previous weeks as Bukayo Saka held his position wide on the left. Had a couple of difficult moments defensively as United looked to counter, and got away with a clumsy handball in his own penalty area.

MF Lucas Torreira, 5 -- The Uruguayan doesn't have the cutting edge required to be a success in a more advanced midfield role than he's used to, summed up by a miscued volley in the United penalty area early in the second half. Brought off for Dani Ceballos after 54 minutes as Arsenal looked for a creative spark.

MF Granit Xhaka, 5 -- Criminal defending from the Arsenal skipper as he ducked his head out of the way of McTominay's strike for the opener. The Swiss international needs to be more positive on the ball, with most of his distribution being more sideways than forward. Booked for chopping down Mason Greenwood after 75 minutes.

MF Matteo Guendouzi, 7 -- The Frenchman moved the ball well and forced David De Gea into a save on the angle in the first half, and the 20-year-old was his side's most progressive midfielder on the ball at Old Trafford as he looked to drive his side forward.

FW Bukayo Saka, 7 -- Worked space well to set up Pepe for Arsenal's best first-half opening, and showed some great flashes of skill on Arsenal's left, but should have done much better with a gilt-edged chance on the hour mark as he fired over, but provided the pass for Arsenal's equaliser. A promising display came to a close when he was replaced by Joe Willock after 79 minutes.

FW Nicolas Pepe, 5 -- The Ivorian is yet to set the Premier League alight since his record move from Lille, and the winger still looks undercooked in an Arsenal shirt. Not quite time for Arsenal fans to panic, but the 24-year-old is clearly struggling, and was hauled off for Reiss Nelson in the 74th minute.

FW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 7 -- Came to Arsenal's rescue yet again with a lovely clipped finish after exploiting a lopsided United defensive line, in what was the Gabon international's only real opportunity.

Substitutes

MF Dani Ceballos, 6 -- Got on the ball but failed to create a meaningful opportunity.

FW Reiss Nelson, N/R -- Failed to make an impact offensively and was forced into defensive work on Arsenal's right.

MF Joe Willock, N/R -- Not enough time to make an impact.