Ferguson jubilant as Giggs forces stalemate

Arsenal 2 Manchester United

The destiny of the title, like the construction of Arsenal's new stadium, will have to wait. Having fought themselves to a thrilling stalemate, the two leviathans of the English game remain entwined at the head of the Premiership. However, the rare sight of Sir Alex Ferguson on the pitch after the match, waving to the travelling support and punching the air, made it clear Manchester United believe they are ascendant.

Not that Arsène Wenger was likely to be in the mood for celebration. It was not just that his side, having overcome the loss of Patrick Vieira through injury, and Ruud van Nistelrooy's 23rd-minute goal, should have closed up the match after taking the lead soon after the hour. It was the dismissal of Sol Campbell, for use of the elbow, which infuriated him most.

Having already been sent off this season, Campbell will be suspended for four matches from 28 April, a ban which will rule him out of the last three Premiership matches and the FA Cup Final. Arsenal may appeal but are unlikely to succeed. "Sol is destroyed," said Wenger. "He cannot understand it. There should be common sense in football. It was accidental."

Arsenal had hauled themselves back into a match played at incredible pace through two goals from Thierry Henry. Neither were classics, his first might be claimed by Ashley Cole and his second was offside. Fortunately for the linesman, Ryan Giggs quickly levelled.

United achieved their point without David Beckham. In leaving him and Gary Neville on the bench Ferguson had made a statement aimed at his dressing room but audible in Madrid. Confirming his abiding principle that no one is bigger than the team, he put his faith in the XI that had pillaged St James' Park on Saturday.

For the first 50 minutes United's performance suggested Ferguson had got it right. Composed and fluid, they caught Arsenal by surprise, their hosts expecting the more physical approach United had adopted on the last three meetings. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer soon justified his inclusion on the right with a whipped cross Beckham could not have bettered. Paul Scholes, unchallenged and fresh from his weekend hat-trick, surprisingly headed wide.

But while Beckham could be duplicated in open play, at set-pieces he was irreplaceable – at least while Juan Sebastian Veron is injured. Twice either side of Scholes' miss, United won free-kicks well within Beckham's range. On neither occasion was Stuart Taylor, deputising in the Arsenal goal for the flu-stricken David Seaman, troubled.

With Patrick Vieira one-paced and Arsenal's attacking players unable to get into the game, United continued to dominate and might have gone ahead after 20 minutes. John O'Shea's cross was flicked over Martin Keown by Scholes and Van Nistelrooy stole behind Campbell. Confronted with the onrushing Taylor, the Dutchman chipped onto the roof of the net.

The miss served only to sharpen his predatory instincts. Three minutes later Van Nistelrooy took a return pass from Giggs on the left, turned Campbell far too easily, and galloped goalwards. Taylor's presence was of little consequence as the Dutchman struck his 37th United goal this season.

Neither verbal support from Arsenal's supporters nor the thick wad of bandages around his knee could help Vieira. His inability to carry the ball forward had deprived Arsenal of one of their most potent assets and his restricted range, in a game this quick, made him a liability. A dozen minutes before the interval Wenger bit the bullet and withdrew his talisman.

Arsenal, now able to play at a quicker tempo, took the game to United and equalised five minutes after the break. United, having had to substitute O'Shea at the break, were still adjusting when Cole took a return pass from Robert Pires and skipped by Gary Neville and Wes Brown. His shot was weak and Barthez would probably have saved it. Then came Henry's intervention.

All season Arsenal supporters, while basking in Henry's skills, have wished he would also score the scrappy goals. Their wish was granted as Cole's shot struck the back of his legs and dribbled in.

The momentum was with Arsenal. It was United who seemed to be rushing their passes, Arsenal who played them with measured purpose. This was especially true when Cole, spotting Henry drifting behind Brown, rolled the perfect delivery. Henry tucked away goal No 29.

The only problem was that Henry was two yards offside when Cole passed. This was no way to decide a championship so perhaps it was just as well that, 22 seconds after the restart, Solskjaer curled in another Beckhamesque cross and Giggs, rising between Lauren and Ljungberg, headed in.

United again reshaped their defence, Gary Neville moving to left-back, and rediscovered their solidity. Arsenal's lost its oak, Campbell dismissed eight minutes from time for felling Solskjaer with an elbow as the striker closed him down. There was time enough for Henry to bring an acrobatic save from Barthez but not for either side to deliver a knock-out punch. The show goes on.

Arsenal (4-4-2): Taylor 6; Lauren 7, Keown 7, Campbell 5, Cole 8; Ljungberg 6, Gilberto Silva 6, Vieira 5 (Edu 5, 33), Pires 7 (Kanu, 80); Bergkamp 5 (Wiltord, 75), Henry 6. Substitutes not used: Warmuz (gk), Luzhny.

Manchester United (4-4-1-1): Barthez 6; Brown 6, Ferdinand 7, Silvestre 8, O'Shea 7 (G Neville 6, h-t); Solskjaer 8, Butt 7, Keane 7, Scholes 6; Giggs 7; Van Nistelrooy 7. Substitutes not used: P Neville, Beckham, Ricardo (gk), Fortune.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire) 6.