Man Utd v Arsenal LIVE: Result and final score after Rice and Fernandes score in dramatic draw
Arsenal failed to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford as their slim title hopes suffered again
Arsenal dropped two more points in the title race as they shared a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Gunners dominated the first half but were made to pay for a lack of end product when Bruno Fernandes bent a free-kick home just before the break.
Declan Rice hit back in the 74th minute with a finish swept in off the post as Arsenal chased a comeback victory, but it was United who had the best opportunity as David Raya was required to make a crucial late stop to deny Fernandes the winner.
Follow all the reaction to Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal below.
Bruno Fernandes’s one-man show leaves Arsenal’s title hopes dead and buried
The chorus was about winning the league at Old Trafford. Not, it transpired, the latest manifestation of Manchester United’s Project 150but the vocal Arsenal fans, harking back to 2002. In 2025, however, it became still clearer at Old Trafford that the Gunners won’t win the league and why. With a 15-point deficit, it is only Arsenal themselves and Arne Slot who cannot admit it is over, a one-horse race after they were held by a one-man team. Bruno Fernandes gave United something they have often lacked at home this season – pride – and Arsenal the familiar feeling of disappointment.
“You are obligated to win every single match if you want a chance,” said a grim-faced Mikel Arteta. His abiding emotion was “frustration”. For many a year, a point at Old Trafford represented an achievement. Now it is a disappointment. Arsenal broke Champions League records by scoring seven away at PSV Eindhoven but their last three league games have yielded a lone goal and just two points. Neither tally is enough.
It felt scant consolation that it could have been worse. David Raya was perhaps both culpable and rescuer; he might have done better for Fernandes’ opener but he did superbly to deny the United captain an injury-time winner, springing to his feet after an initial save to claw the ball back when it threatened to spin over the line. The Spaniard had already had two redemptive moments in swift succession, making terrific saves from Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee, the latter attempting an audacious backheel flick. “The reality is David saved us,” added Arteta.
When can Liverpool win the Premier League title?
Liverpool took another step closer to the Premier League title as a comeback victory over Southampton was followed by Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United, leaving the Reds 15 points clear at the top of the table.
Liverpool are now on 70 points through 29 games and the Reds need just 16 points out of a possible 27 to guarantee the title, with Arsenal only able to obtain a maximum of 85 points – if they were to win all of their remaining 10 games, that is.
Some Liverpool fans may still be looking over their shoulders with nerves, but the truth is that the club is edging towards another top-flight title – but when is the earliest that they could clinch number 20?
Former Manchester United coach claims Erik ten Hag planned to stay at the club for a decade
Ex-Manchester United first-team coach Benni McCarthy has revealed that Erik ten Hag had planned to stay as manager of the club “for the next 10 years”.
The Dutchman was sacked in October with United having won just three of their opening nine league matches.
But former Blackburn striker McCarthy, who worked as a coach under Ten Hag for two seasons before departing last summer, described the Dutchman as an “unbelievable professional”.
Former Man Utd coach makes bold claim about Erik ten Hag’s reign
Arsenal draw with Man Utd to deal another blow to title challenge
Arsenal’s faint hopes of winning the Premier League took another blow on Sunday despite Declan Rice securing Mikel Arteta’s men a 1-1 draw on a day of protest at Manchester United.
The Gunners could ill afford any slip-up given their title hopes hung by a thread, but their failure to match Liverpool’s result the previous day leaves them needing a miracle with 10 games left.
Arsenal sit 15 points behind the leaders after Rice cancelled out Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick as United impressively overcame recent exertions and the fact they were without 11 players for a game Ruben Amorim simply wanted to “survive”.
Arsenal draw with Man Utd to deal another blow to title challenge
Thousands of Manchester United fans dressed in black protest against Glazer ownership
Thousands of Manchester United supporters marched on Old Trafford wearing black as they protested against the Glazer family’s ownership of the club.
The protest started at 3.15pm from the Tollgate pub, and was organised by The 1958 fan group.
Initial reports suggested as many as 5,000 supporters joined in ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Arsenal, waving banners and placards laying out their frustration at the direction of the club. Messages included “RIP fan culture”, “We want our club back” and “Love United. Hate Glazer”.
Thousands of Man Utd fans dressed in black protest against Glazer ownership
Christian Eriksen admits Man Utd benefited from free-kick wall controversy
Manchester United benefited from a misjudgement by referee Anthony Taylor in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford, midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted.
Bruno Fernandes scored a stunning free-kick just before half-time to give United the lead against the run of play. But Arsenal’s wall appeared to be a long distance back from the ball, and Sky Sports’ analysis later confirmed that the defenders were lined up 11.2 yards away from the free-kick.
The laws of the game stipulate that defenders must be “a minimum of 10 yards” from the ball when a free-kick is taken, but referee Taylor forced Arsenal’s players to stand further away, giving Fernandes extra room to get the ball up and down again to score.
Christian Eriksen admits Man Utd benefited from free-kick wall controversy
Up next
Arsenal’s next match is a straightforward home tie in the Champions League last-16, with the Gunners 7-1 up on aggregate. That match kicks off at 8pm on Wednesday, 12 March. At the weekend, they place Chelsea at home on Sunday, 16 March.
United have a potentially season-ending last-16 Europa League match with Real Sociedad this Thursday, with that game starting at 8pm on Thursday, 13 March.
They then face Leicester away on 16 March in the league.
Pundits send warning to Arsenal after declaring title race over with draw to Man Utd
Arsenal have been warned to look at the teams behind them in the race for top four, with the title seemingly out of reach for the Gunners this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side dominated Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United but could only earn a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford as they fell 15 points behind Liverpool in the title race.
After the match, Sky Sports pundits declared that the title race was effectively over, with Paul Merson saying that the Gunners should be concerned about the teams behind them in the table.
Pundits send warning to Arsenal after declaring title race over
Amorim reacts
United boss Ruben Amorim says that he thinks his side "did well” today.
“Of course we don't want to play like this defending so much and giving the ball to the opponent. With all the games and characteristics of the players. [Victor] Lindelof for example without a lot of games. Casemiro is more comfortable in this sort of game.
"It's the opponent. The last game before the Champions League was high pressure by PSV, man to man. they are harder to make in this way. We have some good players in the transition. [Alejandro] Garnacho made a really good game.
"It's normal. We try to keep the starting XI until the goal. When you suffer a goal, the players tire. We try to choose the best moments to press high.
"When you coach Manchester United, you cannot play too much like that. You have to try to win the game. I know it is frustrating for the fans sometimes. We have to deal with that and sometimes do things that are not popular."
On the fans' protests before the game, he adds: "This club will never die, that is clear. You feel it in the streets. This is a big business and maybe all the fans in this league sometimes feel it is harder to go to the games and pay for tickets. We want to give them a lot of effort. In the future, we will not play like that."
Eriksen reacts
Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen says that his side “could have won” the game in the end.
“We tried to play on the counter as much as possible which was the game plan.
On Fernandes' free-kick, he says: "Very good, happy that the wall was a few metres away. You saw how far back they were and it was beneficial for us.
"We felt relief from the fans in the stadium after the goal."
On Rasmus Hojlund, he adds: "I am pretty confident that he will come good. He is a hard-working guy and he is unhappy when he doesn't score goals. But you can name about 10 other players in the team who don't score enough goals. He is a good kid, he will be fine."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments