PREMIER LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 0 

MANCHESTER UNITED 0

A SOLID all-round Arsenal performance dealt a blow to Manchester United’s title challenge as the old foes shared the spoils at the Emirates.

It was the fifth failed attempt by Ole Gunnar Soljskaer to beat the Gunners since taking over United two years ago.

An evenly contested match saw the two sides largely cancel each other out – although there were good chances to break the deadlock at both ends.

Alexandre Lacazette crashed the underside of the bar with a superb free kick while Edison Cavani missed a sitter for the visitors.

The Arsenal front man put in a tireless shift despite often being isolated up front, chasing balls over the top and winning free kicks.

Nicholas Pepe looked the most likely to score and skinned Luke Shaw in the first half before being fouled. The midfielder saw side-foot curlers bend around the post – one was just inches wide.

Granit Xhaka looked relatively composed and didn’t produce any blunders. A fair proportion of his completed passes were, however, backwards.

Thomas Partey provides the impetus taking the ball forward in midfield, but he misplaced passes tonight in key counter attacking moments.

Bernd Leno’s spectacular finger tipped save denied a looping shot from Fred early in the first half.

Manager Arteta was without key players Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney, along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

He played striker Gabriel Martinelli down the left side, teaming up with Cedric Soares at left back. The pairing was the weak-link in the first half, especially when Marcus Rashford was on the ball.

At one point Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shouted over to his striker from the bench while pointing at Martinelli: “He cannot defend, take him on.”

Arteta subbed him off for Willian at half time. The out of sorts midfielder did not have an awful game to match his recent form, but he still lacks a cutting edge and went down claiming injury twice.

After the match, Arteta explained the switch: “It was about a few things and some things we had to try to be much more aggressive like we were in the second half. It was nothing to do with Gabi, his work ethic or whatever, it was just a tactical decision.”

The match had been preceded by clips of famous clashes between the two giants of the game – Vieira v Keane, Henry’s sensational goal against Barthez in front of the Clock End and Wiltord’s winner at Old Trafford.

But the match was played without any of the bite that has came to define fixture in the Wenger / Ferguson era. During an injury the cameras focused in on Luiz and Cavani enjoying a conversation like two old biddies at the the bus stop.

When the Gunners beat United in October at Old Trafford, with a late Aubameyang penalty, the Red Devils were behind Arsenal in 15th spot.

Since then United have been on an incredible run of form but they did not look like true title contenders on tonight’s performance.

Their star man Fernandes barely created a change and his most memorable moment was a petulant foul on Xhaka.

New signing Martin Odegaard came on in the number 11 shirt formerly worn by Ozil for the last ten minutes, but only had a couple of touches and could not impact the game.

The Gunners – unbeaten in six league games – lie in ninth position, ten points behind United.

Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Cedric, Partey, Xhaka, Smith Rowe (Odegaard 83), Martinelli (Willian, 45), Pepe, Lacazette (Nketiah 94)

Subs not used: Runarsson, Gabriel, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Elneny.

Manchester United: de Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay (Martial 37), Fred, Rashford (Greenwood 80) Fernandes, Pogba, Cavani.

Subs not used: Bailly, James, Henderson, Telles, Matic, Van de Beek, Tuanzebe.