Manchester United vs. Arsenal: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League
Arsenal remain in control of third place in the Premier League following a 1-1 draw with hosts Manchester United on Sunday.
United dominated the first half and took a deserved lead through Ander Herrera in the 30th minute. But Arsenal, who appeared strangely listless for at least the first hour, bagged an equalizer through a Tyler Blackett own goal eight minutes from time.
The result kept Arsenal two points ahead of United in the race for the Premier League's third and final automatic qualifying spot for next season's UEFA Champions League group stage. The Gunners can clinch third place with a win on Wednesday in their game in hand, at home to Sunderland.
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Arsene Wenger's side will then finish the season with another home match against West Bromwich Albion next Sunday.
The draw was not all bad news for United, though the hosts will have been hoping to overtake Arsenal, especially after controlling large stretches of the match. Louis van Gaal's men are still assured of a top-four finish and Champions League football next term after spending one season away. But finishing fourth would mean a potentially tricky playoff to secure a place in the group stage.
United will finish the season with a match at Hull City next Sunday.
While both teams are assured of Champions League football next season, both still have incentive to continue collecting points. The team that finishes third will qualify automatically for the group stages, thus avoiding the playoff for the fourth-place finisher.
Chances were scarce in the opening moments, when players were more likely to slip on the pitch than place a shot on target. In the sixth minute, United's Ashley Young sent a curler off target after cutting in from the left flank to set up his favored right foot. Three minutes later, Radamel Falcao had a shot blocked from a tight angle as United continued to push forward.
The hosts continued to grow into the match and created another chance in the 15th minute, when Juan Mata curled a free kick around the wall. But the Spaniard's shot lacked power, and Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina collected easily.
The opener arrived in the 30th minute following more good work down the left by Young. After beating Hector Bellerin for pace, Young lifted a left-footed cross to the back post, where Herrera lurked unmarked. With his first touch, Herrera sidefooted a volley into the net for a 1-0 United lead.
United nearly doubled their advantage moments before halftime with a clever set piece in the 45th minute. With several players from both sides jostling for position in front of goal, Mata rolled his free kick to the unmarked Daley Blind just inside the box.
Blind curled a first-shot that appeared destined for the bottom corner, but United captain Chris Smalling accidentally blocked it.
United started the second half much as they ended the first—on the attack. In the 49th minute, following a good passage of play from the hosts, Young mishit a cross from the left but nearly caught out Ospina, who recovered in time to hold the ball.
Arsenal finally managed to take a shot—their first of the match—in the 51st minute, when Alexis Sanchez fired wildly off target from a tight angle on the left.
Falcao left the match in the 61st minute, replaced by former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie. The on-loan Colombian applauded the home fans as he ended what could be his final appearance for United at Old Trafford.
Arsenal created their first good chance of the match two minutes later as Olivier Giroud collected a Mesut Ozil pullback inside the box, turned his marker and poked a shot on target. The Frenchman was unable to put any power on his effort, however, and United goalkeeper David de Gea made a good kicksave.
The visitors were finally growing into the game, and another chance followed in the 70th minute. Latching onto a clipped pass into the box, Aaron Ramsey flicked the ball over De Gea and bore down on goal, only to see Marcos Rojo kick clear.
De Gea had to leave the pitch in the 73rd minute due to injury, giving Victor Valdes a chance to make his Manchester United debut. Recent rumors have linked De Gea with a move to Real Madrid over the summer—Marca reported Saturday that he's already come to terms with Los Blancos—and in providing him with a warm ovation as he left the game, the home supporters seemed to sense that he might have completed his final appearance at Old Trafford.
Wenger, meanwhile, introduced Walcott and Jack Wilshere in an attempt to liven up Arsenal's attack. The move paid off in the 82nd minute as Arsenal equalized. Ramsey started the sequence with a long, angled pass from inside Arsenal's half to Walcott on the right side of the box. Walcott controlled the ball and got Blackett off-balance before trying a cross.
The ball deflected off Blackett, who had entered the match as a substitute only nine minutes earlier, and bounded into the net past Valdes.
It was an unlikely equalizer, but suddenly Arsenal were pushing for the winner. In the 84th minute, Giroud shot into the side netting after latching onto Ozil's low cross.
At the other end, Van Persie sent a half-volley over the bar after Marouane Fellaini headed down inside the box.
Another goal felt possible, but despite the addition of five minutes of stoppage time, neither side could find a winner.
Grades
| David de Gea | 6.9 |
| Antonio Valencia | 7.5 |
| Chris Smalling | 8.0 |
| Phil Jones | 6.6 |
| Marcos Rojo | 7.7 |
| Daley Blind | 7.1 |
| Juan Mata | 7.3 |
| Ander Herrera | 8.5 |
| Marouane Fellaini | 7.1 |
| Ashley Young | 8.1 |
| Radamel Falcao | 6.2 |
| Robin van Persie (for Falcao 61') | 6.0 |
| Tyler Blackett (for Rojo 73') | 5.8 |
| Victor Valdes (for De Gea 74') | 6.1 |
| David Ospina | 6.2 |
| Hector Bellerin | 6.6 |
| Per Mertesacker | 6.6 |
| Laurent Koscielny | 7.2 |
| Nacho Monreal | 7.3 |
| Francis Coquelin | 7.2 |
| Santi Cazorla | 6.6 |
| Aaron Ramsey | 7.4 |
| Mesut Ozil | 7.1 |
| Alexis Sanchez | 6.4 |
| Olivier Giroud | 6.3 |
| Theo Walcott (for Bellerin 72') | 6.3 |
| Jack Wilshere (for Cazorla 73') | 6.6 |
| Mathieu Flamini (for Sanchez 90') | 6.0 |
Reaction
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, via BBC Sport:
"It's the third goal in a row we have conceded that has been deflected. That's unlucky, but you can force the luck. I believe that Arsenal are maybe the best team in the league but Chelsea can finish a game.
We were better than our opponents for one hour, and we led one-zero, but we have to finish the game. Chelsea can finish the game. We have to improve in this respect for next season.
When you see the results we've had against the other top-six sides, they are not so bad. It's against the little clubs, who fight, defend and park the bus, that we have to be cleverer. That is what has made the difference for Chelsea this season.
"
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, via BBC Sport:
"They started stronger than us. We were not totally in there but in the second half we dominated completely. Unfortunately we couldn't score a second goal but the chances were there.
…
Jack (Wilshere) is now back to a better level. Theo (Walcott) as well. When they score goals that is a sign. We have a big squad and we are competitive. It was important to bounce back from defeat by Swansea and finish well.
…
It is important for us, compared to last season, to exist in the big games. I think we've done that. We were slow to start this season but I think we've made progress. We want to secure second or third and start on the front foot next season.
"
Follow @MiguelCominguez
