Bruno Fernandes put Manchester United ahead at home to Arsenal in the Premier League with a spectacular free-kick amid protests from home fans over the ownership of their club.
Captain Fernandes curled in a glorious effort from long range during first-half added time, ensuring the Portugal playmaker has been directly involved in more than 25 goals across all competitions for the third consecutive season.
Victory in a game that has historically been part of the title race would provide a measure of relief for United in the context of a dismal league season that has left them firmly in the bottom half of the table, while dropped points for the Gunners, who are 16 points behind leaders Liverpool, would leave their faint title ambitions hanging by a thread with 10 league games to play in their season.
Bruno Fernandes, that is beautiful 😍 pic.twitter.com/7pAau1Aqjz
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025
Man United fan protests
A large group of United supporters chanted and held a banner reading ‘RIP Fan Culture 1878-2025’ on a pre-match march to the ground, expressing criticism for majority club owners the Glazer family and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The protest headed to the directors’ box, with Ratcliffe, who took charge of the club’s footballing operations in February, said to be attending the game.
More than 5,000 protestors had gathered by the time the display reached Old Trafford, according to the Manchester Evening News (MEN), which said the shutters had been pulled down at the media and directors’ box entrances.
🗣️This is our final rallying call
We’ve done all we can. We couldn’t have done anymore. Now it’s down to all United fans, supporter groups, fan reps, supporter clubs to unite and send a message.
📍Tollgate⏱️3pm🚶♂️We march at 3:15pm (form behind the large banner)
Bring the… pic.twitter.com/LDWtc2sg9k
— The 1958 (@The__1958) March 8, 2025
Chris Haymes, of fan group The 1958, described the American family, who became majority shareholders in the club in 2005, as “a burden on our backs for 20 years”.
“Jim Ratcliffe has been making people redundant but United have also paid £37 million to the Glazer debt,” Haymes told the outlet.
“The solution is that the Glazers leave the club. Sir Jim has to make some tough decisions but he seems to be a shield for the Glazers at the moment.”
Man United debt: Glazers ‘put us there’, Ratcliffe ‘isn’t helping’
The Athletic reported in February that United’s debts totally £731m. “We are so much in debt – a debt-ridden football club,” The 1958 spokesman Steve Crompton said.
“You can hear them chanting. This is what it’s all about; these fans won’t put up with the way the football club are treating us.
For the love.
For the passion.
For each other.
For past generations.
For the next generation.
For our United.
For all we are.
For all we have ever been.
Today we make ourselves heard 🇾🇪
Tollgate 3pm
🗣️Form behind the 58 flags & new banner pic.twitter.com/RNpqlMcpQe
— The 1958 (@The__1958) March 9, 2025
“This club is on its knees. The Glazers have put us there and Ratcliffe isn’t helping. This is to both [parties]. We are fighting for the future of our football club.
“It’s absolutely everything. We’ve got [rising] ticket prices, we’ve got them getting rid of concessions. These fans are angry – they hate what’s happening to our football club.
“This is a community that’s come out today to tell the Glazers and Ratcliffe that we’re not messing about.”
