Arsenal controlled the majority of possession in the first half, but Manchester United’s solid defensive structure kept them at bay, forcing the Gunners to struggle for breakthroughs.
Declan Rice’s equalizer in the 74th minute denied Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim a crucial win, while further damaging Arsenal’s fading Premier League title hopes in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Arsenal now find themselves 15 points behind leaders Liverpool, with just one game in hand, as their focus shifts to securing a Champions League spot for next season.
Bruno Fernandes had put United in the lead with a stunning free-kick in first-half stoppage time, but they were unable to hold on for just their sixth Premier League win under Amorim. Rice leveled the score 16 minutes into the second half, ensuring the match ended in a draw, leaving United in 14th place.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, overseeing his 200th Premier League game, has achieved 118 wins, placing him just behind top managers like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, and Alex Ferguson in terms of Premier League victories.
However, his wait for a league title seems set to continue, as Arsenal now appear likely to finish second for the third season in a row.
Meanwhile, Amorim acknowledged that he wouldn’t be afforded the same amount of time Arteta had to rebuild Arsenal, as dissatisfaction among United fans grows, reflected in protests throughout Old Trafford.
Arsenal, having failed to score in their previous two league outings, were without key attacking players such as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli.
Despite these absences, the Gunners returned to form midweek with a dominant 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
The match began with Arsenal on the front foot, but a lack of a natural striker saw them miss several chances. United, who have struggled for goals this season, took the lead just before halftime when Fernandes expertly curled a free-kick into the net, despite questions over Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s positioning.
Raya atoned for his error with a series of crucial saves in the second half, denying Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee from extending United’s lead.
Arteta brought on Gabriel Martinelli, recently recovered from injury, in search of an equalizer, but it was Rice who struck to level the game, rifling a shot past United goalkeeper Andre Onana from a Jurrien Timber assist.
Amorim had dropped Rasmus Højlund to the bench after the striker’s 19-match goalless run. The Danish forward had two opportunities to break his drought but was thwarted by resilient Arsenal defending.
As the match entered stoppage time, Raya was called into action again, this time preventing Fernandes from snatching a late winner for United.
Ultimately, the draw does little to help Arsenal’s title push, but it maintains their four-point cushion over third-placed Nottingham Forest and an eight-point lead over fifth-place Manchester City, keeping them in a solid position to secure a Champions League spot for next season.
