Sandwiched either side of some crucial European clashes for both sides, Manchester United hosted Arsenal for the first time in the 3 meetings under Ruben Amorim. With a tough first trip away in the league as a part of United’s poor end to 2024, they showed a grit and determination in early 2025 for the FA Cup clash. Now taking on the team still holding onto a faint hope of a title challenge, United had one eye on Thursday’s meeting with Sociedad amid injury concerns and openly admitting the domestic campaign is essentially a write-off.

The result doesn’t do much for either side as the dropped points puts Arsenal’s hope of a title charge further back, but the task already seems impossible, while for the hosts, they are looking destined for a bottom half finish and ultimately only European success could finish both seasons in style.

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Teams

Manchester United’s lack of depth available was clear to see in their line-up. Starting with both Eriksen and Casemiro, it was the reliance on the senior players due to limited availability on the bench which showed United’s concerning injury list. With Heaven being used from the bench against his former side, only Collyer and Hojlund were the other used substitutes as the rest of the bench was more representative of an U-21 fixture.

For Arsenal, their options looked much stronger from the bench despite limited attacking options. Still utilising Merino as the central striker, questions could be asked over some of the changes, with Tierney being brought on late in the game, while the experienced forward of Sterling remaining on the bench throughout.

Manchester United: Onana, Yoro (Heaven 46′), Lindelof, De Ligt, Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Eriksen (Collyer 76′), Garnacho, Zirkzee (Hojlund 76)

Subs: Mee, Harrison, Amass, Fletcher, Moorhouse, Obi-Martin

Arsenal: Raya, Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly 58′), Gabriel, Saliba, Timber, Rice, Partey (Tierney 76′), Odegaard, Trossard, Merino, Nwaneri (Martinelli 58′)

Subs: Neto, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling

Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal

​Manchester United and Arsenal played to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday, in a match that saw both teams share the points. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring for United with a free-kick in first-half stoppage time, while Declan Rice equalized for Arsenal in the 74th minute. The result leaves Arsenal trailing league leaders Liverpool by 15 points, with a game in hand, and United positioned 14th in the table.​

Arsenal dominated possession in the first half but struggled to create clear-cut chances against United’s low defensive block. Despite their control, the Gunners found themselves behind at the break after Fernandes curled a free-kick over the wall and past David Raya in the 45th minute. The goal marked United’s first halftime lead in a Premier League match since December 1st.

In the second half, Arsenal continued to press for an equalizer, with Ødegaard and Trossard testing United’s defence. Their efforts paid off when Timber set up Rice, who fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box to level the score. Both teams had opportunities to secure a win in the closing stages, but strong performances from goalkeepers Raya and Onana ensured the match ended in a draw.

Talking Points

Bruno Fernandes’ clever free-kick on the stroke of half-time handed Manchester United a surprise lead at Old Trafford and sparked immediate debate over Arsenal’s defensive organisation. With David Raya expecting coverage on his near post, the Gunners’ wall left a tantalising gap that Fernandes exploited with precision, curling his shot into the top corner. Questions will inevitably be asked of Mikel Arteta’s setup, and the questions over the referee’s placing of the defensive wall, a rare lapse for a side usually so meticulous in their defensive details, and it ultimately proved costly on an afternoon where fine margins mattered.

Both managers made no secret of their broader priorities, with heavy squad rotation hinting at the looming presence of European fixtures. United’s eyes are firmly fixed on their Europa League second leg with Real Sociedad, while Arsenal have all-but confirmed their place in the last 8 of the Champions League. That reality gave the match an uncertain approach, intense in flashes but often lacking the all-consuming feisty nature of prior meetings between the sides, as key players were preserved and substitutions carried an air of caution rather than audacity.

Yet amid a challenging domestic campaign, United could take solace from another commendable showing against elite opposition. After limp displays earlier in the season, Ruben Amorim’s side again demonstrated they can rise to the occasion when tested, blending compact defending with sudden bursts of quality. The result may do little to shift their middling league position, but it offered further evidence of a resilience and tactical sharpness that bodes well as they chase silverware on the European stage.