Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his fourteenth goal in as many Premier League starts to secure a point for Arsenal away to Manchester United.
Man Utd were in front at half-time after Scott McTominay scored his first goal at Old Trafford, in a match that struggled conjure the bite and grandeur of year’s gone by.
Nonetheless, when its dullness parted like a winter’s rainstorm, the old magic still shone through. A lacklustre first-half sprung into life minutes before half-time with two moments of quality that well-worth the wait, at both ends of the pitch for United.
Arsenal broke brilliantly after David Luiz did well to cut-out a corner routine from the hosts, and the Gunners broke free with pace looking for the opener.
But they came up against a rejuvenated David de Gea.
The Spaniard has recently signed a new lucrative deal at Old Trafford and showed his worth of every penny of with a double save to deny Nicolas Pepe and Matteo Guendouzi.
It brought about a rousing applause from the home crowd, and seemed to inspire his teammates also, when seconds later they drew first blood.
Daniel James - who already had the beating of Calum Chambers down Arsenal’s right - drove down the other flank and away from Sead Kolasinac. He clipped a ball towards the far-post in search of Marcus Rashford, who though slightly behind it, managed to stop its trajectory and calmly lay it back to the edge of the area towards Paul Pogba.
The Frenchman was unable to collect it, but it trickled through to McTominay, who’s effort clipped off Sokratis and beyond a rooted Bernd Leno to hand United the lead at the break.
United started positively after the restart and were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty for a handball from Kolasinac. There was no intervention from VAR, and that became doubling sickening for the host moments later.
Six minutes later, to be precise. Arsenal’s main man Aubameyang brought the sides level just before the hour mark.
I was sure I was onside – I was surprised the referee whistled but I finished as usual and always try to score even if I hear the whistle. I heard the crowd saying it was offside but it was a goal so I was happy.”
Axel Tuanzebe - playing out of position at left back for United - was at fault. His loose pass found Bukayo Saka who neatly tucked the ball between Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, and Aubameyang dinked the ball over De Gea to score his fourteenth Premier League goal in his last 14 starts.
The goal was initally flagged offisde, before that decision was overturned by VAR.
United huffed and puffed to restore their lead, but baring a thunderbolt from Maguire which Leno tipped over the bar, and a fierce free-kick from Rashford in stoppage time, they offered little to trouble Leno in the Arsenal goal.
The Gunners will go home the happier of the two, while United will file this one under another home win that slipped away.
Relive the action as it happened at Old Trafford!
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Team news and lineups
Man Utd: de Gea, Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Maguire, Young, McTominay, Pogba, Andreas Pereira, Lingard, James, Rashford
Subs: Mata, Rojo, Fred, Romero, Greenwood, Matic, Williams
Arsenal: Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Pepe, Aubameyang, Saka
Subs: Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Nelson, Martinez, Willock, Martinelli
