MAN UTD 1 - 1 ARSENAL
Giroud steals point for Wenger after Mata gives Mourinho lead
The French sub rose at the back post just before added time to claim a point for Arsenal at Old Trafford after the Spanish playmaker had netted during United dominance.
Late win keeps distance in the league
Arsenal escaped from Old Trafford with a point thanks to a late header from French striker Olivier Giroud which equalised a second half goal from Juan Mata. Arsenal had the better of the first half without troubling De Gea, however were lucky to not have conceded a penalty, but the home side dominated much of the second period.
Juan Mata's 69th-minute strike looked to have earned Jose Mourinho's United a much-needed win, only for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to tee up his fellow substitute Giroud for a last-gasp leveller. The result preserved Arsenal's six-point lead over sixth-place United, but left United falling even further behind the table leaders.
Still no Gunners' win at the Theatre of Dreams
Arsenal remain without a league win at Old Trafford in 10 years and Wenger has still not beaten Mourinho in the league in 12 attempts. But this was a draw that will have felt like a win for the Frenchman, particularly after Mourinho provocatively cited his 12-year wait for a league title in the build-up to the game.
Giroud's goal, only his fourth of the season, extended Arsenal's unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions and left United with just two wins from their last nine league fixtures. Mourinho, who shared an icy handshake with Wenger before and after the match, must now rouse his players for Thursday's key Europa League home game with Feyenoord. Alexis Sanchez came through a fitness check on a troublesome hamstring to boost Arsenal and he was his usual, buzzing self in the early stages, steering a header off-target from Theo Walcott's flick-on.
Midfield control and penalty shout
But with Michael Carrick anchoring United's midfield again and Antonio Valencia, back from a fractured arm, supplying drive from right-back, there was poise and purpose to the hosts' football. Carrick's presence allowed Paul Pogba to get forward and he gave a glimpse of his ability by steamrollering Francis Coquelin and drilling a cross into the box that Arsenal managed to clear.
United felt they should have had a penalty in the 35th minute when Valencia nutmegged Nacho Monreal and then went down as the Spaniard leaned across him, but referee Andre Marriner said no. Pogba then teed up Mata, who had earlier bent a free-kick wide, for a low shot that Petr Cech pushed around the post and the Arsenal goalkeeper also saved three times from Anthony Martial. Arsenal did not register a shot of note in the first half, but as United's momentum waned after half-time, Mourinho turned to his bench.
Substitution influences
Wayne Rooney, aiming to redeem himself from late-night carousing while on England duty last weekend, and Daley Blind came on, with Martial and Matteo Darmian making way. Slowly, United picked up the pace and with 21 minutes remaining they made the breakthrough. Pogba's pass sent Ander Herrera haring towards the byline on the right and from his cut-back, Spanish compatriot Mata arrived to send the ball past Cech with a sumptuously crisp side-foot effort.
Wenger introduced Giroud for Mohamed Elneny, which saw Sanchez, whose influence had dimmed, withdraw to the left flank, and Granit Xhaka also entered the fray. Mourinho's men continued to dominate, Marcos Rojo heading wide from Blind's deep cross, only for Oxlade-Chamberlain to skin Marcus Rashford before crossing for Giroud to snatch an unlikely point.
Although both managers and set of fans will be dleighted not to have lost this game, the real winners of this are the teams challenging them at the top of the table. It's now over to Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and Spurs...