Premier League
Manchester vs. Arsenal
Venue: Old Trafford
Date: Saturday, 19 November 2016
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT
Manchester United suffered heartbreak as Arsenal snatched a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Having failed to lose to the Gunners at home in the league since 2006, winning all but two games in that spell also, that record looked like continuing until substitute Olivier Giroud’s late header rescued a point for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Despite dominating proceedings and seeing Juan Mata give his side the lead midway through the second half, Jose Mourinho was left to rue what could’ve been.
It was Mata who had the first chance of the game, as his free-kick fell just wide of Petr Cech’s right-hand post.
Alexis Sanchez headed wide as Francis Coquelin volleyed off target, before Andre Herrera did likewise at the other end.
Paul Pogba’s clever pass allowed Mata a strike at goal, but his former Chelsea teammate Cech denied the Spaniard with a low fingertip save to turn the ball wide.
Cech then denied Anthony Martial twice in quick succession, tipping over before holding onto the second effort moments later as half-time arrived.
If the first half could be construed as even, United certainly dominated the second half, with Martial’s tame shot held before Marcus Rashford saw an attempt blocked.
Captain Michael Carrick dragged wide before the opening goal came.
Neat play on the right allowed Pogba to slip in Herrera, and his pull back found his fellow countryman, as Mata kept his composure to keep his shot low and find the back of the net with a first time finish.
Marcos Rojo headed wide from Daley Blind’s cross, as the hosts looked in control as full-time approached.
But if the visitors were handed the script, they tore it up by scoring against the run of play with less than two minutes of normal time remaining, as two substitutes combined, with Giroud heading home Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross after beating Rashford on the right.
Two points dropped, as a third consecutive home league display went unrewarded with a third draw on the trot in that spell.
Speaking of three consecutive elements, Old Trafford plays hosts to three more fixtures in succession, with Feyenoord the opposition this Thursday at 8:05pm in the Europa League.
After that follows a double header against West Ham United, first in the league, before the EFL Cup quarter-final.
Line-ups:
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian (Blind 64); Herrera, Carrick, Pogba; Mata (Schneiderlin 85), Rashford, Martial (Rooney 63).
Subs not used: Romero, Lingard, Young, Memphis.
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Arsenal: Cech; Jenkinson (Oxlade-Chamberlain 84), Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin (Xhaka 80), Elneny (Giroud 73); Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott; Sanchez.
Subs not used: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Iwobi.
Manager: Arsene Wenger
2 Comments
All of the reports seem focused on either United failingto win or Arsenal equalizing. Both fair points, but this was a very good game of football to watch. The first twenty minutes were up and down the pitch, with United having the better chances but Arsenal also threatening. Things settled a little, with United beginning to dominate toward halftime. Arsenal looked ready to capitulate and Mata scored a really nice goal on a pull back.
Another interesting item that keeps getting passed over was Darmian’s high, studs up challenge while he was already on a yellow card. The commentators at the time were unanimous in says if he hadn’t already been on a yellow he’d have gotten one. how would the game have changed if he’d been sent off, as was entirely possible?
On the Arsenal were VERY poor but still good enough to stop maureen.