Manchester United 1, Arsenal 1
Bruno Fernandes’ superb free kick was cancelled out by Declan Rice’s second half strike as Manchester United were held by Arsenal.
The draw put the Reds up to 14th in the league as Arsenal dropped more points in their bid to overhaul Liverpool – they are now 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.
United struggled in a forgettable first half until injury time when Leandro Trossard was booked for bringing down Alejandro Garnacho 25 yards out from goal.
Bruno Fernandes was undaunted by the huge Arsenal wall and clipped a textbook free kick over the wall and the ball dipped under the cross bar to break the deadlock to the delight of Old Trafford.
But the Reds lost Leny Yoro to injury and replaced him with ex-Arsenal youngster Ayden Heaven – making his Premier League debut – at half time.
And Noussair Mazraoui had a chance to double that lead when he got on the end of a cross from the left by Diogo Dalot only to see his shot saved by the boot of David Raya and deflect past the post after 54 minutes.
And Raya was at it again not long after when he stopped a cheeky backheel flick by Joshua Zirkzee after Alejandro Garnacho sent another dangerous ball into the box from the right.
But United paid for their lack of cutting edge when Arsenal equalised after 74 minutes when Jurrien Timber was allowed to slalom his way into the area from the right side where he picked out an unmarked Declan Rice who rifled home from 16 yards out.
Rasmus Hojlund and Toby Collyer were sent on with Zirkzee and Christian Eriksen making way.
But Gabriel Martinelli forced a save from Onana with United tiring while Rice and Gabriel cleanly tackled Hojlund who had only Raya to beat after going clean through both times.
Martin Odegaard had a shot saved with Gabriel Martinelli shanking the rebound over the bar before Bruno Fernandes forced a save from David Raya who also had to claw the rebound away before it span into the goal in a frantic finish.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 1, Arsenal 1
Andre Onana: 6. Rooted to the spot as Mikel Merino’s shot screwed narrowly wide. Troubled by the movement of Leandro Trossard. Tipped over a dipping Martin Odegaard shot but overshadowed by David Raya.
Nousair Mazraoui: 7. Couple of fine efforts saved by David Raya.
Mathijs De Ligt: 6. Solid enough.
Victor Lindelof: 6. Rare start for him, didn’t get put under as much pressure as Arsenal could have had they had strikers and United were sat deep.
Leny Yoro: 6. Had his hands full looking after Ethan Nwanieri but was hobbling in the first half and went off at half time.
Bruno Fernandes: 7. Had to cover more ground deeper in midfield but a superb free kick in the first half to put United into the lead. Great chance to seal a win late on for United.
Casemiro: 7. Put himself about and stemmed a lot of Arsenal buildup but did not see Declan Rice lurking on the edge of the United area.
Diogo Dalot: 7. Good cross from the left to set up Noussair Mazraoui.
Christian Eriksen: 6. Didn’t add much going forward.
Alejandro Garnacho: 7. The only pace in the side, drew a foul from Leandro Trossard and a free kick 25 yards out which led to the goal and also put the ball into the box a couple of times in the second half.
Joshua Zirkzee: 6. Was never going to get any change out of Gabriel – dropped deep to try and supplement the aging midfield and got an elbow in the head from Thomas Partey.
Ayden Heaven (on for Leny Yoro, 46): 6. Inevitable he would play against his old team.
Rasmus Hojlund (on for Joshua Zirkzee, 76): No time to mark
Toby Collyer (on for Christian Eriksen, 76): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester United 1, Arsenal 1
Man Utd 1, Arsenal 0: 45+2. Bruno Fernandes with a perfect free kick from 25 yards to put United in the lead after Alejandro Garnacho was brought down by Leandro Trossard.
Man Utd 1, Arsenal 1: 74. Declan Rice equalised with a strong shot from 16 yards out after Jurrien Timber skipped between static United defenders to set up the midfielder who was in space with a cut back.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, Arsenal 1
Man Utd: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Lindelof, Yoro (Heaven 46), Fernandes (C), Casemiro, Dalot, Eriksen (Collyer, 76), Garnacho, Zirkzee (Hojlund 76)
Man Utd Subs not used: Mee, Harrison, Heaven, Amass, Obi, Fletcher, Moorhouse
Goals: Fernandes 45+1
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly 58), Odegaard (C), Partey, Rice, Nwanieri (Martinelli 58), Trossard, Merino
Arsenal Subs not used: Neto, Tierney, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling
Booked: Trossard 45+1 (foul on Alejandro Garnacho)
Goals: Rice 74
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 73812