9 March 2025
Man Utd 1 Arsenal 1
Man Utd welcomed Arsenal to Old Trafford looking to derail their title ambitions, despite it seemingly handing fierce rivals Liverpool the trophy. That being said, saying that The Gunners are still in that race is like saying Prince Harry will become King one day. While not technically impossible, a whole lot of unlikely, dark, bad things have to happen for even the slightest chance of it becoming a reality.
Arteta’s side started confidently, dominating possession and passing it around. Odegaard looked to weave his way into the box but a challenge saw the loose ball break to Merino. He checked onto his left foot and dragged a near post shot just wide of the target. Onana was rooted to the spot and would not have saved if it were on target.
Odegaard was involved again moments later as he scooped a pass over the United defence. It fell perfectly for Trossard, just six yards out, unmarked in front of goal. Sadly for the visitors, he flicked a left boot at it and made no contact whatsoever. Arteta looked infuriated on the touchline with the chances his team were wasting in this game.
It just underlines the lack of depth The Gunners have in their squad. The former Brighton man would not get into a side that is looking to finish in the top four, let alone win the Premier League title. The Belgian then gave the ball away in his own half with a poor touch before clattering into Garnacho and bundling him over in a dangerous position. Deep into added time, the referee awarded the hosts a free-kick.
Fernandes stepped up to take it and proved to the Red Devils’ saviour once again. He managed to get his strike up and over the wall before arrowing into the back of the net. Raya got nowhere near it. Old Trafford erupted as they took the lead in the game. This was the worst possible start Arsenal could have made in this game.
Just after the interval, Zirkzee played Dalot in the down the left and flighted a deep cross into the back post to pick out Mazraoui. His first-time volley seemed destined for the net but the outstretched leg of Raya somehow turned it wide of the post. How important that could prove for The Gunners if they were to do the unthinkable this season.
As the tackles began flying in from both sets of players, Merino stamped on the leg of Garnacho, who was down on the floor. The referee did not see it and VAR did nothing to intervene. By the letter of the law, it was a red card. Maybe Stockley Park are trying to level things up for all these Arsenal fans who claim decisions are costing them the title this season.
Garnacho looked to cross into the box moments later and it deflected off Partey into the path of Zirkzee. He tried a flick to catch out Raya but the Spaniard got lucky as the ball struck him and he was to regather it. So close to doubling the lead for Amorim’s side. Man Utd could have been out of sight in this game with half an hour still to play.
Time was running out for Arsenal as nothing but victory would suffice after Liverpool had won their game the day before. It was worked out wide to Timber, who looked to dribble in the box. With no way through, he laid it off into the path of Rice in the box. He struck a superb shot that was curling away from the keeper that clipped the inside of the post and went in.
The former West Ham midfielder ran over to the corner of the ground with his fingers on his lips, sending a message to the United fans. It almost seemed as though he didn’t realise a draw would gift the league leaders another two points in the gap between the two teams. With fifteen minutes of normal time remaining, The Gunners still had a lot to do.
Arteta’s side managed to carve out another half-chance when Martinelli got a shot away from a tight angle. Onana managed to do enough as he parried it narrowly wide of the post. With players in the middle, you felt that the Brazilian winger had opted for the wrong choice. At the very least he should have looked to strike his shot across the keeper to the far corner.
Man Utd should have scored when Merino was robbed of the ball just outside his own penalty area. It was played to Hojlund who only had to put the ball away, in the middle of the goal. He seemed to dwell on it rather than pulling the trigger and Rice put in a world-class sliding tackle from behind to poke the ball off the Dane’s toes.
The Gunners were getting a bit sloppy with their passes and allowed the Red Devils to come forward once again. Garnacho played it into Mazraoui in the box. He got to the byline, before cutting it back into the middle. Fernandes arrived to meet it with a goal seeming certain. As he stuck his shot towards the corner of the goal Raya managed to block it to deny him.
It span towards the Arsenal goal and the Spanish keeper reacted well to scoop it off the goal line before it crossed the line. He had earned his side a point with that stop, leaving the Portuguese midfielder with his head in his hands. Towards the end of the game, it was Man Utd who looked the more likely to grab another goal.
Nothing could separate the two teams and the points were shared at Old Trafford. It seemed a far bigger positive for Ruben Amorim’s side than it did Mikel Arteta’s. When asked about the title race after the game by Sky Sports, the Spaniard stormed away from the interview, refusing to even acknowledge the question asked of him. The pressure seems to be getting to The Gunners’ boss.
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