Declan Rice cancelled out a contentious free kick from Bruno Fernandes as Arsenal and Manchester United played out a 1-1 Premier League draw at Old Trafford.
Those watching from home could have been forgiven for turning off the TV during an extremely dull first 45 minutes, which was a classic case of Arsenal building attacks in and around the penalty area without a killer touch.
Instead, the killer touch arrived from Fernandes, as the skipper's fabulous free kick gave Ruben Amorim's men an undeserved lead on the stroke of half time, although the Arsenal wall were somehow further back than they should have been.
The Gunners initially had little in the way of a response to Fernandes's controversial free kick, until Rice's brilliant finish finally drew them level, but Mikel Arteta's men needed an astonishing last-gasp David Raya save to even come away with a point in the end.
Arsenal's draw leaves them a full 15 points below Liverpool in the Premier League table with a game in hand on the rampant Reds, while Man United lie 14th, eight points off the top half.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
If you needed any more evidence that the Premier League trophy will not be heading to the Emirates in May, this game was it, and Arsenal fans will make the long journey home with the most immense sense of frustration.
Just a few days after a merciless seven-goal slaughter of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, Arsenal reverted to their mediocre ways in the final third, and they were arguably fortunate to even come away with a point after all.
The first 45 minutes was a torturous watch for fans and neutrals alike, and only in the final 20 or so did the game truly explode into life, where Man United actually looked the more likely to score after Rice's equaliser.
Amorim's men were not fearful of a lacklustre Gunners side whatsoever and had some gilt-edged chances to steal all three points, from Rice's last-ditch tackle on Rasmus Hojlund to some crucial Raya interventions, including a terrific leap and claw right at the death.
It is now surely Europe or bust for both teams after Sunday's hard-fought draw, but if Arsenal are not careful, their top-four standing could very well come under a bit of threat in the final few weeks.
MAN UNITED VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS
Bruno Fernandes goal vs. Arsenal (45+2 min, Man United 1-0 Arsenal)
Bruno Fernandes, that is beautiful 😍 pic.twitter.com/7pAau1Aqjz
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025
Talk about against the run of play! Alejandro Garnacho beats Leandro Trossard all ends up and wins a free kick some 25 yards from goal, which has Fernandes's name all over it.
The Man United skipper easily gets his set-piece up and over the Arsenal wall, and Raya - whose positioning must surely be called into question - cannot get across in time to stop Fernandes's free kick sailing into the net!
Declan Rice goal vs. Man United (74th min, Man United 1-1 Arsenal)
"BELTER." 🎙️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025
A fine Declan Rice strike draws Arsenal level! pic.twitter.com/z7wDT5evHj
A long time coming! Where Arsenal's attackers have failed today, Rice delivers, and the Gunners' huffing and puffing finally draws them level.
Jurrien Timber does extremely well on the right, jinking his way past a couple of challenges as he moves inside before laying off Rice, whose terrific strike across goal hits the inside of the post and flies into the net.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DECLAN RICE
© Imago
Rice did not just save Arsenal's bacon with his well-taken equaliser; the former West Ham United man prevented what would have surely been a certain goal for Rasmus Hojlund with a wonderful last-gasp tackle after Mikel Merino lost the ball in a dangerous area.
Those two game-changing moments alone make Rice a worthy winner of the man-of-the-match prize, although Fernandes and Raya could also hold their heads high, even if the latter did not cover himself in glory for the free kick.
MAN UNITED VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS
Possession: Man United 32%-68% Arsenal
Shots: Man United 10-17 Arsenal
Shots on target: Man United 6-6 Arsenal
Corners: Man United 2-9 Arsenal
Fouls: Man United 8-11 Arsenal
BEST STATS
2 - Bruno Fernandes has scored a direct free-kick in two of Manchester United's last three Premier League games (v Everton & Arsenal) - he had only done so in one of his first 183 appearances in the competition before this. Buses. pic.twitter.com/BGGZ7iHh4Y
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 9, 2025
Players to score multiple free-kicks in the Premier League this season:
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 9, 2025
- Bruno Fernandes
He is 'that guy' 🌟
(@WhoScored) pic.twitter.com/My5OmjaxTG
Declan Rice has been directly involved in three goals in five games against Manchester United as an Arsenal player (two goals, one assist).
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 9, 2025
His joint-most against an opponent since joining the Gunners. 💪#MUNARS pic.twitter.com/06OoxS6Low
WHAT NEXT?
Both turning their attentions back to European matters, Arsenal host PSV Eindhoven in Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second leg boasting a surely unassailable 7-1 lead from the first leg, while Man United welcome Real Sociedad for their Europa League return fixture after an opening 1-1 draw.
In both sides' final games before the international break, the Red Devils head to Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City next Sunday, a few hours after Arsenal host London rivals Chelsea.
Ben Knapton
