By David Awopetu
Manchester United were held to a 0-0 draw by an under-strength Arsenal side at the Emirates Stadium as they lost ground to Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners, who were without captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney, started brightly, but United, who lost Scott McTominay early in the match to injury, grew into the game and fashioned the best chance before the break.
Bernd Leno made a smart save to deny Fred, while Marcus Rashford failed to get a shot away when free at the back post as the sides went in all-square at the break.
In the second half, Arsenal came out the stronger of the two sides as Alexandre Lacazette’s free-kick hit the crossbar before David de Gea made an excellent block to keep out Emile Smith Rowe’s strike.
Nicolas Pepe sent a curling effort inches wide late on before Edinson Cavani steered arguably the best chance of the encounter wide in the dying stages.
Arsenal gave a late debut to Martin Odegaard, signed on loan from Real Madrid, but he had little impact and the stalemate leaves United three points behind Manchester City having played a game more.
Arteta’s players have responded well to last Saturday’s bitterly disappointing FA Cup fourth-round loss at Southampton with a league victory away at Saints followed by this hard-earned point against United.
Arteta, constantly cajoling from his technical area, has a side that is very much a work in progress but their endeavour here – especially given the absence of key players – demonstrated he has something to build on.
