Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second half equalizer helped Arsenal to leave Old Trafford with a point that saw them move up to fourth place on the log. Aubameyang’s goal cancelled a first half sitter by Scott McTominay to give the home side the lead.
Also read: Liverpool: Henderson’s error makes it seven wins for the Reds
The game itself was more of a disappointment than action packed, open as it was, the level of desire and technicality displayed by both teams underlines just how far away from a Premiere League challenge both are.
For many years the clashes between these sides were the Premier League’s marquee fixtures. United and Arsenal were the champions of England for nine consecutive seasons between 1996 and 2004.
The standards at both camps have dropped and drastically too. The fact that they played the match on Monday night as neither clubs are competing in the champions league underscores just how far down the pecking order both teams have fallen.
The first half was devoid of quality with Bernd Leno making the one safe to deny Andreas Pereira after a solo run.
Manchester United has not score more than one goal in a match since scoring four past Chelsea in the opening day of the season.
Marcus Rashford wasted an opportunity to put that may have change the course of the game after being put clean through by a Paul Pogba pass after the Frenchman dispossessed Matteo Guendouzi a challenge which the Gunners were still protesting.
Bukayo Saka pounced on a loose pass inside the united box before feeding Aubameyang who was already flagged offside befor dinking the ball over the De Gea, a VAR review showed he was clearly played on by Harry Maguire and so the goal stood. 1-1.
The goal in itself is a sign of total commitment form he Gabonese striker because he could have opted not to shoot after a flag waving assistant referee already called him offside.
Arsenal later had a chance to win the match when Saka lashed unto a Callum Chambers cross only to see his effort narrowly deflected off the goal by Lindelöf.
Bernd Leno was again called to action towards the end of the game when he dove a full stretch to block Rashford’s well struck freekick after United’s goal scorer missed a free header from six yards and Leno already denied Maguire making amends for his mistake in the equalizer.
1-1 it ended at Old Trafford on a rather mediocre night from one of the two greatest teams in the league and in world football generally.
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