Manchester United and Arsenal share spoils at Old Trafford

Manchester United drop points after Arsenal come from behind at Old Trafford to share the spoils.

Arsenal will be content with one point, but it was overall a disappointing game as both sides lacked quality to impose themselves during the course of 90 minutes.

The hosts dominated the possession in the first half but struggled to find a breakthrough in the final third. Arsenal meanwhile sat deep and were waiting to pounce on any turnovers in the midfield.

Manchester United eventually got their first big chance at the half-hour mark. Andreas Pereira drove through the right flank and fired in a shot that was easily saved by Bernd Leno. The two sides were struggling to stamp their authority in the game, failing to string few passes to build a decent attacking move.

Arsenal wasted a few set-piece opportunities. However, the first big opportunity for the visitors as Pereira failed to intercept the ball, allowing Bukayo Sako to have a clear shot on the goal. The teenager’s attempt was parried away by David De Gea.

Just as it looked that the half will end in a stalemate, United manage to break the deadlock, courtesy of a peach of a strike from Scott McTominay.

The home side broke quickly after Arsenal failed to deliver a decent corner. Daniel James carried the ball up to the final third and drilled a low cross to find Marcus Rashford in the box. The English forward squared it for McTominay at the edge of the box. The Scotsman took a touch and deposited the ball in the right corner of the goal.

After a disappointing first half, Arsenal started the second-half better. There was more drive and purpose in their play as they tried to find the equaliser.

The Gunners eventually succeeded just around the hour mark when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finished calmly De Gea after a poor back pass from Axel Tuanzebe put United’s defence in a vulnerable position. The linesman had flagged Aubameyang offside but VAR came to his rescue.

United tried to gain control of the game slowly after suffering the setback. McTominay missed a free header from a corner, while Pogba also came close to scoring as his curling effort missed the goal by few inches.

Arsenal settled on to a point in the final quarter of the game as they kept playing safer passes and defended resolutely. Rashford almost clinched the win for the home side as his free-kick was brilliantly saved by Leno.

United continue to further slide in the Premier League table after this result. The Red Devils move to tenth place, while Arsenal return to fourth in the table.

Team Lineups

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Maguire, Young (c); McTominay, Pogba; Pereira (Greenwood 75’′), Lingard (Fred 75’) James; Rashford

Subs unused: Romero, Rojo, Williams, Mata, Matic

 

Arsenal(4-3-3): Leno; Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Xhaka (c), Torreira(Ceballos 53’); Pepe(Nelson 75’), Aubameyang, Saka (Willock 77’)

Subs unused: Martinez, Mainland-Niles, Holding, Martinelli