Arsene Wenger claimed his first ever Premier League victory over Jose Mourinho and ended Manchester United’s long unbeaten run.

Arsenal cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium to inflict United’s first defeat in 26 games since their hammering at Chelsea in October.

Liverpool had been held to a goalless draw by Southampton at Anfield earlier in the day to place a top-four finish back within the Manchester club’s grasp.

Win all four of their remaining fixtures and Champions League football would be secured without the need to lift the Europa League trophy later this month.

That mission began here then at the Emirates Stadium but Mourinho was not making life easy for himself by making wholesale changes to his team.

Only three players who started the semi-final first leg win over Celta Vigo started in north London as teenager Axel Tuanzebe was handed his full debut.

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Arsenal’s fading top-four hopes would be over if they lost again after their damaging derby defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham last weekend.

Gabriel and Olivier Giroud make way for Danny Welbeck and Rob Holding as Wenger stuck with his three-man defensive formation.

Both goalkeepers were forced into early action with Anthony Martial and Aaron Ramsey registering shots on target in the first 10 minutes of the match.

The Gunners started to gain a foothold but almost gifted Manchester United the opener when Wayne Rooney intercepted Holding’s abysmal back-pass.

However, the England captain could not find a way past the onrushing Petr Cech and the deadlock remained unbroken at half time in the capital.

De Gea looked invincible at times in the first 45 minutes and it was going to take either something special or a lucky deflection to beat him.

It turned out to be the latter as Granit Xhaka tried his luck from long range and the ball cannoned off the back of Ander Herrera and looped into the net.

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Three minutes later and it was two. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain delivered a peach of a cross from the left and Danny Welbeck headed home against his old club.

Mourinho wasted no time in making changes in an attempt to rescue the game, throwing on wonderkid Marcus Rashford and speed merchant Jesse Lingard.

Neither made a difference as the visitors could not carve open clear-cut chances against a Gunners side who were given an easy ride in the closing stages.

Southampton are next up for Wenger’s side on Wednesday evening while Mourinho must now pick his team up for their second-leg clash with Celta.