LONDON: Manchester United moved to fourth in the Premier League with a 5-2 rout of struggling Bournemouth while Arsenal dealt a major blow to Wolves’ Champions League chase by winning 2-0 at Molineux on Saturday.
Third-placed Leicester also got back on track with Jamie Vardy reaching 100 top-flight goals in a comfortable 3-0 win against Crystal Palace.
United’s fearsome front four of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood were all on the scoresheet to lift Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men one point above fifth-placed Chelsea, who host Watford later on Saturday.
“Confidence is sky high. You get energy and confidence by performances and results and we are getting that at the minute,” said Solskjaer, who is feeling the benefits of a 16-match unbeaten run.
“I have enjoyed the last few games to be honest and it is healthy. You don’t age as quickly!”
Bournemouth are moving fast in the other direction as they remain second bottom and the Cherries’ defensive problems were quickly exposed after they took a shock 16th-minute lead through Junior Stanislas.
Greenwood, Rashford and Martial have now combined for 55 goals this season and it was 18-year-old Greenwood who smashed home from Fernandes’s pass to get the comeback started.
“Mason is one of the best if not the best finisher I have worked with and seen,” added Solskjaer. “He is so calm. He knows where to finish if it is on the training ground, here or in his garden at home.”
Six minutes later United had turned the game around when Adam Smith was penalised for handball in the area and Rashford converted the spot-kick for his 20th goal of the season.
Martial also then scored his 20th of the campaign in stunning fashion by curling an effort high past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from the edge of the area.
Eric Bailly gave Bournemouth brief hope when he conceded a penalty just four minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute and Josh King scored the spot-kick.
