Premier League: Arsenal v Manchester United – in pictures

Wilshere tries to thread a path between Carrick and Valencia. Despite two attempts on goal in the first ten minutes, the first half was a slow game to watch, with each side's confidence visibly knocked by recent events. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Vidic hitches a ride on Giroud's shoulders and gets the ball first to head it out of the danger zone. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Van Persie saw a few chances on goal despite Manchester's focus on a defensive game. Every time the ball came into his possession, however, he was met with a chorus of boos from what used to be his home fans. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Antonio Valencia's presence at the post was very much appreciated by David Moyes – what would certainly have been a goal was headed out of the danger zone. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Kieran Gibbs has a header on target, but comes off worse in a battle with Da Silva, falling awkwardly, he stayed down for some time before getting back up. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Shortly afterward, and it was Da Silva's turn for a header to turn into a nasty looking fall, this time onto his neck. Despite being able to play on, he was taken off the pitch at half time. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The defensive play was cemented by great performances fro David De Gea – his hands appeared to have their own gravitational pull. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

De Gea saves the ball once again – his hand's gravitational pull inadvertantly sucking in Ferdinand's boots. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

David Moyes looks livid with his team. United's defense didn't falter, however any sense of attacking urgency was entirely lacking. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Ozil tries to get past Carrick and Vidic, but United's constant strength in numbers in their own half gets the better of him. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Giroud makes an attempt on goal, however pressure from Vidic sees it miss its mark. United's defense proved impenetrable, despite the occasional hint of urgency in Arsenal's game. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Looking suitably chastened, Giroud missed each of his four chances on goal. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Arsene Wenger holds his head in his hands, as were fans around the country. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The body language says it all – both sides played poorly, with little attacking initiative shown. Arsenal had the better game of the two, but a lacklustre performance from the forwards combined with a defence-heavy strategy from United to create an unbreakable deadlock. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins