x

Man United set record in goalless draw against Arsenal

Manchester United set a new club record of 18 league away games without defeat after playing out to a goalless draw with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium
on Saturday.

However, United’s Premier League title challenge suffered a second setback in four days as they failed to breakdown an under-strength Arsenal.

United threw away top spot with a shock 2-1 defeat to bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United in midweek and are now three points adrift of league leaders Manchester City having played a game more than their local rivals.

A point edges eighth-placed Arsenal to within six points of the top four and it was the Gunners who came closest to scoring when Granit Xhaka’s free-kick struck the bar in the second half.

Unlike the early days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign, it is against their traditional top six rivals that the Red Devils’ challenge for a first league title since 2013 has faltered.

United have still yet to beat any of City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea or Arsenal in the league in six attempts this season.

After winning at Old Trafford three months ago, the Gunners went seven league games without a victory but have bounced back in recent weeks.

Mikel Arteta’s men are now unbeaten in seven to move back into contention for a top-four finish, but will rue missing their chances in the second half to take all three points despite a number of key absences.

Two of Arsenal’s most impressive performers this season, Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka, were missing through injury, while captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also absent for the third consecutive game due to his mother suffering from an illness.

After a tentative start from both sides, Bernd Leno made a brilliant save to deny Fred a clever opener for United as the Brazilian tried to lob the ball in from the edge of the box.

Arsenal had a number of half-chances before the break without testing David de Gea as Thomas Partey and Nicolas Pepe shot just wide from the edge of the box and a teasing cross from Gabriel Martinelli just evaded Alexandre Lacazette.

– Fernandes goes close –

It is exactly a year to the day since United signed Bruno Fernandes and the Portuguese nearly celebrated the anniversary with a curling effort that drifted inches wide.

Fernandes has had a transformative impact on United’s fortunes and came closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock before the break with a free-kick that was deflected inches over.

Willian has had the opposite effect since joining Arsenal in August, but the Brazilian was called upon by Arteta for the second half in place of Martinelli.

The former Chelsea winger’s lack of confidence was obvious as his weak effort was blocked behind when presented with a great chance two minutes into the second period.

Pepe then saw a goalbound shot blocked by Harry Maguire as Arsenal were the better side after the break.

Xhaka’s free-kick came even closer than Fernandes’s effort from a similar area on the field as the Swiss midfielder’s shot crashed back off the bar.

Moments later Emile Smith Rowe’s powereful effort was parried by De Gea.

Another swerving effort from Pepe just did not have enough curl to nestle in the far corner, but United could still have snatched a win to keep the pressure on City late on.

Edinson Cavani was quiet for 88 minutes, but the Uruguayan pounced on Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s dangerous cross only to see his volley fly inches wide.

A point does at least maintain United’s long unbeaten run away from home in the league, which now stands at 18 games, bettering the previous club record held by Alex Ferguson’s 1998/99 treble-winning team.

Hot this week

Nigeria-China Relations and the Global Governance Initiative

By Charles Onunaiju Last July, at the 17th BRICS Leaders’...

Marafa, Adamawa APC Youths Pay Condolence Visit to Northeast Vice Chairman

By Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna Chairman of the Amalgamation of APC...

Works Minister Umahi Felicitates With Muslims on Eid-Maulud

By Jabiru Hassan The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi,...

Plateau Winning War Against Substandard Drugs, Says DG

By Israel Adamu, Jos The Director-General of the Plateau State...

Nigerian-London Based Businessman, Andishu Hails Gov Otu’s Development Strides

By Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna London-based Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Moses...

Power Outages: Tinubu Moves To Ensure Reliable Electricity Supply in Tertiary Hospitals

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made concrete...

NCPC, Israel Foreign Affairs Spark Talks On Strengthening Bilateral Relations

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian...

BREAKING: Blackout as national grid collapses

Large parts of Nigeria were thrown into darkness on...

Ezekwesili Demands Reinstatement of Senator Natasha, Accuses Senate of Constitutional Overreach

Former Minister of Education Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili has demanded...

NUPENG Suspends Strike as Dangote Agrees to Unionisation Demands

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers...

World Cup Qualifier: NFF Slams Dessers, Faults Troost-Ekong After Eagles’ Draw With South Africa

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sharply criticised Super...

Flood Tragedy in Zaria Claims Lives, Leaves Several Missing

At least two people have been confirmed dead and...

Resident Doctors to Decide on Nationwide Strike as Ultimatum Expires

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will today...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img