Surrendering the Title

The clash between Man Utd and Arsenal is always one to watch due to its rich history. In the previous round, United secured a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town, climbing to 14th place in the standings. However, their form this season has been disappointing, with just two wins in their last six matches. Manager Rúben Amorim is still struggling to find consistency with his 3-4-3 formation, which has yet to bring any significant improvement.

For Arsenal, Man Utd is no longer considered an equal rival. The Gunners have won all four of their last Premier League encounters against United, including a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Another defeat this weekend could see Amorim’s side drop to 16th place—a disastrous scenario for the Red Devils.

On the other hand, Arsenal, with 21 points more than United, currently sits second in the table. However, they trail league leaders Liverpool by 13 points, meaning they must win all remaining matches while hoping Liverpool slips up to have any chance at the title. A recent attacking crisis has left Arsenal goalless in their last two games, losing 0-1 to West Ham and drawing 0-0 against Nottingham Forest. Although Arteta insists Arsenal has not given up on the title race, the reality is that their current squad makes it extremely difficult to stage a comeback. Additionally, their FA Cup third-round defeat to United still lingers in their minds.
Given these circumstances, experts predicted a closely contested match between United and Arsenal, especially with the Red Devils playing at home. The match ultimately ended in a draw, as two stunning goals were shared evenly between both teams.

Heading into the game, Amorim opted to bench Rasmus Hojlund and chose Zirkzee and Garnacho instead. From the opening whistle, Arsenal took full control of possession, while United willingly sat deep, absorbing pressure. However, Arteta’s side struggled to break through United’s disciplined defense, forcing them to rely on long-range shots and crosses, which proved ineffective.

Just when the first half seemed destined to end goalless, a moment of brilliance changed everything. In the second minute of added time (45+2’), Bruno Fernandes curled a stunning free-kick past David Raya, who could only stretch in vain. Despite being outplayed for most of the half, United went into the break with a 1-0 lead. 

In the second half, Arsenal intensified their attacks, while United began to pose more threats on the counter. Goalkeeper David Raya made two crucial saves to keep Arsenal in the game. Then, in the 74th minute, another wonder goal arrived—this time from Declan Rice, whose powerful long-range strike left André Onana helpless.

Both teams pushed hard for a winner, creating an electrifying end to the match. However, no more goals were scored, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

With this result, both sides remain in the same positions in the league table. However, Arsenal’s gap to Liverpool has now widened to 15 points, leaving the Gunners with only a faint hope of mounting a late title challenge.