Manchester United remain unbeaten at Old Trafford in the 2020-21 Premier League season as well.
Manchester United took points against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for the third time in four Premier League matches.
Striker Edinson Cavani had two good chances in the closing minutes, but Arsenal deserved the point on a chilly night in North London.
The Gunners had the best chance of the match when a free kick from Alexandre Lacazette landed against the crossbar after halftime. Goalkeeper David de Gea saved well for Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe also threatened to close the scoring.
De Gea’s counterpart Bernd Leno also stood out for his athleticism in the first half, with the exception of Fred.
United came close to victory when a shot from close range by Cavani was deflected off Leno and the Uruguayan striker intercepted a beautiful cross from Aaron Van Bissack when he was already certain of a goal.
Arsenal made their debut late on with Martin Odegaard, borrowed from Real Madrid, but he could do little, leaving United three points behind Manchester City with one game to go.
Arsenal shows promising signs
Arsenal are still hoping for a win at home, but manager Mikel Arteta shouldn’t be too dissatisfied with the point he scored against United.
The Spaniard had to contend with serious injuries before kickoff, when Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney were absent. Added to this was the absence of top striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had to miss out for personal reasons.
Arsenal’s new team fought valiantly and even heaved a sigh of relief when Cavani missed two holes that such an experienced marksman should have converted.
Arteta’s men responded to their bitterly disappointing defeat in the FA Cup fourth round against Southampton on Saturday with an away win in the Saints’ championship, followed by a hard-fought point against United.
The Gunners were on the verge of two wins when Lacazette sought cover while De Gea stood still – although it would have been difficult for United.
Arteta, who never stops flattering his technical field, has a team that is still largely a work in progress, but their efforts here have shown – especially given the absence of key players – that it still has much to do.
The frustrated united left
Manchester United set a club record at the Emirates with 18 Premier League away games unbeaten – yet there was a hint of frustration in manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s body language after the final whistle.
He was desperate to grab three points to bounce back from a surprising home defeat to Sheffield United in midweek, and showed his good intentions by bringing in striker Anthony Martial when midfielder Scott McTominay was forced to shoot in the first half.
However, Solskjaer ended the first goal-less draw between the two sides in the Premier League since February 2014 – meaning Arsenal are now unbeaten in their last six league games against United.
United had plenty of ball possession but lacked the finishing touch. Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes had one of his quietest games and Cavani’s radar went astray.
Solskjaer didn’t seem too unhappy in his post-match interviews, but the team was confused at Manchester City and will probably feel they got away with it.
“We have to take our chances,” they said.
Draw against Human LLC – A fair result – Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said, “I thought it was a fair result. Both directors probably think we should have won it.
“Three of our best players dropped out and that probably had an impact, but I am very happy with the players.
“We were so dominant in the second half and we created good chances to win.”
Man OOO must shoot forward – Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United boss: “If you look at the games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool – we defended well and we didn’t leave too many chances.
“This is the basis of the game. We have to take risks – we know we have players who can do that, but we haven’t done it lately.
“I thought we controlled the game in the first half and played well. We created two great chances and we played well.
No win against Arsenal under Solskjaer – Statistics
- Arsenal are unbeaten in each of their last six league games against Manchester United, having lost both home and away in the 2017-18 season. It is Arsenal’s longest unbeaten run against the Red Devils in the league since October 1980 to May 1983.
- For the first time since September 1981 to May 1983, United failed to score in three league games against Arsenal (a run of four games).
- It is the first goal-less draw between Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League since February 2014.
- United, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, have not won all five Premier League games against Arsenal – the Norwegian is the only coach of the Red Devils to have met Arsenal in the top division without winning a single game.
- For the first time since April 2019, Arsenal have kept a clean sheet four times in a row at home in all competitions.
- Arsenal’s Willian reached his 250th Premier League title after playing more games than any other Brazilian.
What is the next step?
Both teams return to the Premier League on Tuesday. Arsenal travel to Wolves (18.00 GMT), while Manchester United take on Southampton (20.15 GMT) at Old Trafford.
The player of the game
Smith RoweEmile Smith Rowe
Links to.
Arsenal
4-2-3-1 training
1Leno
2Bellerin16Holding23David Luis17Cedric Soares
18Partey34Xhaka
19Pepe32Smith Rowe35Martinelli
9Lacazette
- 1Leno
- 2Beller
- 16Hold
- 23David Louis
- 17,edric Soares, strikes at 13 minutes.
- Part 18
- 34Haca
- 19Peps
- 32Smith RoweReplaced for Ødegaard after 83′ minutes
- 35MartinelliReplacement of Villianat 45’min
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahs 90+4’minutes
Replaces
- 6Gabriel
- 11 Odegard
- 12Villian
- 13Runarsson
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 21 cameras
- 25Elneny
- 28Willock
- 30Nketia
Man
4-2-3-1 training
1st Gea
29From Bissaka2Lindelef5Maguire23Shaw
39McTominay17Fred
10Rashford18Bruno Fernandes6Pogba
7Kavanee
- 1st Gea
- 29WanBissakaBocking 51 minutes away
- 2Lindlef
- 5MaguireBocking at 76Minutes
- 23Display
- 39McTominayReplaced by Martilat 37’min
- 17Fred
- 10RashfordReplaced by Greenwood in 80’minutes
- 18Bruno Fernandez
- 6PogbaBocking at 73Minutes
- 7Kavanee
Replaces
- 3Bailly
- 9Martial
- 11Green tree
- 21 James
- 26Henderson.
- 27Telles
- 31Matic
- 34 Van de Beek
- 38 Tuanzebe
Living Text
- End of match: Arsenal 0, Manchester United 0.
- End of second half, Arsenal 0, Manchester United 0.
- One attempt missed. Fred (Manchester United) rattles off a right footed shot from the center of the box that misses to the right. Assisted by Edinson Cavani.
- Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketia replaces Alexandre Lacazette, injured.
- Harry Maguire (Manchester United) takes a free kick in the middle of the penalty area.
- Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) is penalized after committing a foul.
- Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) right footed shot from inside the box but misses. Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) shoots with his right foot from the center of the box but misses with a right foot. Aaron Van Bissack takes the ball into the box.
- Failed attempt. Cédric Soares (Arsenal) shoots with his right foot to the left of the box from a direct free kick.
- Aaron Van Bissack (Manchester United) is penalized after committing a foul.
- Willian (Arsenal) is awarded a free kick on the opponent’s half.
- Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) is awarded a free kick on the other side’s half of the pitch.
- Rob Holding (Arsenal) is penalized after committing a foul.
- Substitution, Arsenal. Martin Odegaard replaces Emil Smith Rowe.
- Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) hits a free kick on the opponent’s half.
- David Luiz (Arsenal) is penalized after committing a foul.
- A shot attempt from outside the box misses to the left. Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal)’s left footed shot from the right side of the box is close range but misses to the left. Assisted by Hector Bellerin.
- Manchester United’s Paul Pogba’s free kick is awarded on the opponent’s half.
- Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) is penalized after committing a foul.
- Substitution, Manchester United. Mason Greenwood replaces Marcus Rashford.
- One attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) shoots with his right foot from the center of the box and misses to the right. Assisted by Aaron Van Bissack.
