An injury hit Arsenal side was held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday as United lose more ground to Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners were without captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka, and Kieran Tierney but still played brightly. United, who lost Scott McTominay early in the match to injury, grew into the game and had the best chance before the break.
Bernd Leno also manned his post excellently making a host of smart saves to deny Fred, keep Marcus Rashford at bay, and ensure Edinson Cavani had no chance to slot past him.
In the second half, it was a more exciting encounter as both sides kept looking for the winner.
Arsenal, who brought on Martin Odegaard for his debut late on, came out the stronger of the two sides as Alexandre Lacazette struck a free-kick at the crossbar before David de Gea made an excellent block to keep out Emile Smith Rowe’s strike.
Nicolas Pepe also sent two curling effort inches wide before Edinson Cavani steered arguably the best chance of the game wide in the dying stages.
The point sees Arsenal stretch their unbeaten league run to seven games and also move up to eighth, while United, who have scored just once in five games against their big-six rivals this season, stay second, but are three points behind leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Watch the highlights of the match below
Managers reactions…
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “It was a big battle. Both teams wanted to win, and it was a really competitive match. They had some moments in the first half and we had the biggest moments in the second half, but to make the difference you need to score when we had the big chances we had.
“It is [a sign of progress]. Considering the circumstances and all the players we don’t have; it was a big test for us and I think the team turned up and showed how much they wanted to win the game.
“Everyone involved in the game tried their best and gave a really strong performance. We had some bad decisions in the first half where we lost the ball in some dangerous positions, but the moment we started to correct that and we were better in our high press, the team looked different and we were there to win the game.
“We’ve been on a really strong run and we’ve faced some difficult opponents. The schedule is crazy and we are losing players all the time, but we are in the right direction.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said after the game: “Good performance, two massive chances in the second half but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. We had the greater share of possession, the better chances, there was a spell in the second half we dropped off but apart from that I’m pleased with the boys.
“I felt we had the upper hand but didn’t get Paul [Pogba] in the game and we wanted him to get on the ball more and Anthony [Martial] to drive at them. We wanted Paul to dictate the play more. It [was] definitely a disappointing one [losing to Sheffield United on Wednesday]. Today they did what they should do. You can’t control if they take the chances or not.”
On taking one point from the last six available: “We take the point and move on to Southampton on Tuesday. It’s like an NBA season this, on the road again.”
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- Arsenal remain unbeaten in each of their last six league games against Manchester United (W3 D3), since losing home and away in 2017-18 – the Gunners’ longest unbeaten run against the Red Devils in league competition since October 1980 – May 1983 (also a run of six).
- Manchester United have failed to score in three consecutive league matches against Arsenal for the first time since September 1981 – May 1983 (a run of four).
- This was the first goalless draw between Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League since February 2014, also at the Emirates.
- Manchester United are winless in all five Premier League games against Arsenal under Ole Gunnar Solskjær (D2 L3) – the Norwegian is the only Red Devils manager to face Arsenal more than once in the top-flight without winning a game.
Premier League results
Saturday 30th January
- Everton 0-2 Newcastle United
- Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Manchester City 1-0 Sheffield United
- West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Fulham
- Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
- Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa
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