For Manchester United there was, finally, some resistance both on as well as off the pitch. For Arsenal it was confirmation of why they are not ready – again – to be Premier League champions.
After the anti-Glazers protests, United put up some fight and will rue not claiming what would have been a crucial victory, and their first back-to-back league wins this season.
They had the chances and they had the lead, given to them by Bruno Fernandes with a free-kick just before half-time. Goalkeeper David Raya was at fault then but later made three outstanding saves to redeem himself including to deny Fernandes again in injury-time.
Arsenal claimed the point through Declan Rice, who also made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Rasmus Hojlund. But it was not enough.
Mikel Arteta will blame the injury crisis that his team has suffered, especially in attack. But it was telling that as they chased the game he put on left-back Kieran Tierney to blame on the wing and kept Raheem Sterling on the bench. Sterling has proved to be a poor signing and not what was needed.
In the final reckoning Arsenal have not proven good enough. United were without eight first-team outfield players, had had two days fewer to recover after their European tie and, frankly, were on their knees. But Arsenal could not take advantage.
For the third successive season they will finish second at best but this campaign it has been the fall-away that has been so concerning. Frankly they have not mounted much of a challenge for Arteta that has to be a deep concern.
07:32 PM GMT
Arteta speaking on Sky, an interview he stormed out of at the end
When we had them in the first half that we had where we were exceptional, we didn’t test the keeper. We had some unbelievable situations but we didn’t get the last shot or the last pass. We lacked that knife. We didn’t capitalise. In the second half we rushed the game, we started to lose duels and we could have ended up losing it.
On Arsenal struggling to take their chances:
Sometimes that is what is missing. The execution has to be in to the right player and the right player to shoot. How we conceded [chances] in certain moments was not acceptable. They have so much quality and they pick the right player and normally that would end in a goal.
We opened the gate to lose the game. there was no chance to lose the game and we opened it ourselves. I will defend my players all the time but in those moments we have to do better.
On the Fernandes free-kick:
He’s been smart and he took advantage, that is football. He’s been smarter than the ref, that’s OK, they allowed him to do it.
Do you regret signing a striker?
No. It’s not about that.
Patrick Davidson: Mikel, one more? I have to ask you about the title race because it’s 15 points now. Is it too much?
07:30 PM GMT
Amorim on the protests
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.
07:27 PM GMT
Amorim on United’s performance
I think we did well. 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.
07:25 PM GMT
Arteta speaking to BBC
Very frustrating we haven’t won with the dominance and the chances we had in the first half. We gave the ball away out of nothing. Gave a foul away. We had them in the second half, you could feel they were really fatigued.
It was the threat in the final 25 metres to make something happen. They didn’t want to play. You come here and you want to win the game. Today, it is frustration.
07:16 PM GMT
Roy Keane on Arsenal’s performance
You’ve got to have cutting edge, cutting edge is very important.
Forget Liverpool, be more worried about the teams coming up behind you.
They scored seven in the week, but they didn’t have any swagger about it today. United have been dreadful all season, I would be looking at Arsenal’s mentality. You must smell United were here for the taking.
They weren’t streetwise. The next step is always the hardest one. If you’re playing for Arsenal what good is second to you?
07:16 PM GMT
Paul Merson on Arsenal’s striking situations
We had this with Arsene Wenger too. Everyone knew he needed a centre-half, but he never got one. It’s the same with Mikel Arteta now.
They had a £60m bid rejected for Ollie Watkins rejected in January. Well, then go with 65. It’s just five million. It’s just a cup of tea for Arsenal.
Do you think that Arsenal front three get into Fulham’s team? And where are Fulham?
07:07 PM GMT
Eriksen on Hojlund
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.
07:03 PM GMT
Eriksen convinced the wall was a factor in the Fernandes goal
Very good free-kick, they had the wall about 15 metres away so perfect for him to put it over. We saw it early. It was the same when they have a free-kick in the second half, we were so far back.
Declan Rice thought similar:
I’ve not seen the goal back. It felt like the ball flew over us at a low height. It [the wall for the free-kick] did feel far back. Anthony [Taylor] is the ref, he makes that decision.
06:51 PM GMT
Bruno’s campaign so far
25 - Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 25+ goals in each of the last three seasons (12 goals, 13 assists this season); one of only three players to have done so for a Premier League club, along with Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland. Talisman. pic.twitter.com/87XqPUSPML
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 9, 2025
06:46 PM GMT
Rice speaking post-match
I think in the first we had some beautiful bits of play, but without that cutting edge
In the second half we did some things that we haven’t done all season in the last 10 minutes, and almost handed the game to them. They have individual quality and can be dangerous, there was stupidity from us. It became an end to end game and probably the a fair result.
We scored seven in midweek and PSV have not lost at home in two-and-a-half years. We were full throttle and came with the same intention today. It was a fair draw because there was not much in the game.
The chance at the end with Bruno and David making two great saves, that’s why I say that naivety. it was down to us and we could have thrown the game away.
Like the manager said, we’ll keep going until the end of the season. Liverpool have been amazing all year. We’re Arsenal. We’ve been hit hard by injuries. We’ll keep going and we’ll be alright.
06:42 PM GMT
No wins in three in the league for Arsenal now
And they have scored just three goals in four games. It is more instructive to start looking behind them in the table: they have a four-point lead over Forest in third and an eight-point cushion in fifth. Chelsea at home next. Champions League football should be assured but they need to start stringing some wins together again. The good news is that with Martinelli back, they can at least pick three forwards again. Their level of quality is another question.
06:27 PM GMT
FT: United 1 Arsenal 1
That is the least United deserve on the balance of chances and a second-half performance of impressive intensity. They were second-best in the first 45 minutes before Bruno Fernandes’ moment of magic with the free-kick. Arsenal won the second half 1-0 but were unusually porous and unstructured, lacking the control in the game to crank the pressure up in the final 20 minutes. Given the title is already gone, they might feel relieved to avoid defeat.
06:26 PM GMT
93 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
What a chance for Fernandes to win it for United but he fluffed his lines. His shot from around the penalty spot was straight at Raya, before the ball spun back towards the goalline and the Arsenal goalkeeper did brilliant to claw the ball to safety. Not unlike his save at Villa Park. When that ball was rolling back to Fernandes you were waiting for the net to ripple.
06:23 PM GMT
92 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
That was Arsenal’s chance to win it surely. Trossard with a pass across the box for Odegaard but his shot lacked the power to beat Onana but the goalkeeper parried into his six-yard box. Martinelli was there for a tap-in but blazed over, but the flag went up for offside in any case.
06:21 PM GMT
90 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal’s performance has lost all shape and structure. Garnacho shoots over the bar and there will be just four minutes of added time to play.
06:20 PM GMT
89 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
Heaven with a good challenge on Martinelli on the halfway line. Fernandes is down and holding his leg but now looks fit to continue. Time running out for Arsenal to find the winner, but it only takes a moment.
06:18 PM GMT
87 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
United now looking the more likely to find the winner, Gabriel’s last-ditch challenge required to beat Hojlund when he looked poised to convert a low Collyer cross. Arsenal defend the corner but then butcher their chance of a counter. They have scored in this half, but were better in the first. Arsenal have been ragged since half-time and they have managed the period since their goal poorly.
06:16 PM GMT
85 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
United punt a free-kick forward and this time Casemiro goes down looking for another near the edge of the box but nothing given.
Oh what is Merino doing?! Caught on the ball by that famous pressing machine Casemiro and Hojlund looks clean through on goal, but Rice recovered with a magnificent defensive challenge. Saving the say again.
Arsenal break, and Tierney skews a shot wide from a Tierney pullback. An action-packed few minutes.
06:14 PM GMT
82 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal threatening, Martinelli in all kinds of space down the right and found by Merino. Onana beats the near post shot away for a corner. The Arsenal forward should have gone across goal in the hope of own goals and rebounds. United clear the corner from which there was lots of pushing and shoving. Gabriel appeals for another penalty but the contact was soft.
06:11 PM GMT
80 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
United have a long, long unbeaten record when leading at half-time in the Premier League at Old Trafford. That might be under threat in the closing stages here. Arsenal enjoying a long spell of possession again. Rice pokes a through ball into the box and wonders where his striker is.
06:09 PM GMT
78 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
United with a spirited response to conceding, Fernandes exchanging passes at the edge of the box but shooting straight at Raya. Arsenal need to get their foot on the ball and build pressure again.
06:08 PM GMT
76 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 1
We now have a raft of changes: Arteta brings Tierney on for Partey, so Trossard up front and Merino in midfield. Collyer and Hojlund are on for Eriksen and Zirkzee for United. The home team do have a free-kick in a crossing position as they seek an immediate reply.
From the second phase, De Ligt looked to be up early in the box but his soft header was caught by Raya.
06:06 PM GMT
GOOOAALLL! Declan Rice sweeps Arsenal level
Arsenal were sleep-walking towards defeat here, but Rice has injected some life into their performance now. Timber does well to carry the ball into the box, and with United defenders attracted to the right-back, Rice is free at the edge of the box to crack a shot in off the post. Lovely strike.
06:04 PM GMT
72 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal have restored some territorial dominance in the game now, but they still are lacking cutting edge. Kieran Tierney, not Raheem Sterling is about to be Arteta’s next change.
Arsenal have a free-kick, swung in by Rice and there are vociferous appeals from Gabriel and others for a handball penalty.
Taylor unmoved, and VAR judges Heaven headed the ball onto his arm. Heaven then makes a great block on Martinelli’s low cross.
06:01 PM GMT
69 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Both sets of players are not disputing the distance the wall is from the taker, in response to the Fernandes’ goal.
It does not matter in the end; Odegaard’s shot is straight into the wall.
05:59 PM GMT
67 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal might carve out one goal here, but it is becoming hard to see how they find two. United are looking comfortable in their shape, and Arsenal are struggling to find any progression near the centre of the box.
Lewis-Skelly sets about improving that, driving through the middle of the pitch and buying a free-kick from De Ligt in a shooting position. The defender did not really make an attempt to tackle, the Arsenal man left a leg across him.
05:56 PM GMT
65 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Declan Rice with a burst forward into the box which wins Arsenal a corner. Onana and his defenders have dealt with these situations quite well so far. Taken short and well-worked, but Trossard’s shot from the edge of the box with his right foot was tame and dragged wide.
05:54 PM GMT
63 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
United are winning most of the duels at the moment which was not the case early in the game. They are also doing a very good job of preventing Arsenal from combining inside when their widest attackers have the ball. Lewis-Skelly fouls Garancho in the corner.
05:50 PM GMT
59 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Arteta makes a double change: Calafiori and Nwaneri off for Martinelli and Lewis-Skelly.
Another good chance for United! Garnacho’s deflected shot ran for Zirkzee but his flick was straight at Raya. United have been the better side so far in the second half, Arsenal have barely got out of the dressing room.
Double substitution from Arteta before the hour. Arsenal need something to change here because they’ve been desperately poor. Raya saves again to deny Zirkzee. United could be 3-0 up.
05:48 PM GMT
57 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal camped in United’s half but they have committed the cardinal sin in a fixture such as this and given the home crowd home. Old Trafford are now involved and kicking every ball in a way that wasn’t the case in the first 30 minutes of the game.
05:46 PM GMT
54 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
What a chance for United to double their lead! Mazraoui arriving completely free to meet a cross that was floated over the head of Calafiori, shooting on the volley from six yards out but Raya saved miraculously with his feet. Arsenal clear the corner.
A No 10 holding the ball up well and releasing a wing back to stand up a lovely cross for another wing back rushing into the box and meeting it with a sweetly struck volley that the goalkeeper does well to keep out - that was an example of how Amorim envisages his system working. There have been too few instances of it since he took charge but that would have been a fine second goal, Raya doing well to save Mazraoui’s volley from Dalot’s cross after excellent work by Zirkzee. Arsenal have been so poor.
05:42 PM GMT
52 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal took the corner short to Odegaard and he struck a first-time shot sweetly over the bar. Taylor decides Onana got a touch, but replays suggest it went straight over. From the next corner, Rice is free and he tries one on the volley from a driven Odegaard pass but the Arsenal midfielder sliced the ball. Not quite Paul Scholes.
05:40 PM GMT
49 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Odegaard tries to receive the ball in a tight pocket around the United box but Lindelof is in there strongly. Dalot then pinches the ball off Nwaneri but runs the ball out of play. Not too much zip about Arsenal in the early minutes of the half. An Odegaard cross is cleared at the back post and Arsenal have a corner.
05:38 PM GMT
47 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
The pattern of the first half has resumed, with Arsenal trying to dominate the ball in the United half and the home team hoping for an error from which to spring. No changes from Arteta at the break.
Arsenal’s left side looking a little flimsy again, but Timber does well to clear Garnacho’s pull back when Eriksen was lining up the shot. The Arsenal right-back cleared for a throw.
05:36 PM GMT
We are back under way
United get the second half started.
05:36 PM GMT
Arsenal wall latest
The Sky boffins (I’m obliged to use the word boffins) say the wall was in fact 11.2 yards away.
05:35 PM GMT
He has his eye in
2 - Bruno Fernandes has scored a direct free-kick in two of Manchester United's last three Premier League games (v Everton & Arsenal) - he had only done so in one of his first 183 appearances in the competition before this. Buses. pic.twitter.com/BGGZ7iHh4Y
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 9, 2025
05:34 PM GMT
There will be a half-time change for United
How’s this for a story: Ayden Heaven, who played for Arsenal against United in pre-season, will now face his former club in the Premier League. He will replace Yoro, who was struggling physically in the first half for reasons unclear.
05:32 PM GMT
Arsenal’s wall on the free-kick
Sky have just shown Anthony Taylor pacing back 10 yards and making the Arsenal players stay short of the spray, so that would appear to settle any arguments about the wall being in the wrong place.
05:24 PM GMT
United’s one ray of light
“The Bruno Fernandes team”. Fernandes scores from a free-kick to give United the lead. David Raya’s positioning looked questionable to say the least but United fans won’t care one jot about that. It’s hard to overstate United’s dependence on Fernandes. He has his critics but he is the best player in this side by some distance and absolutely critical to everything they do.
05:23 PM GMT
HT: United 1 Arsenal 0
Bruno Fernandes’ moment of magic from the free-kick has United in front. Despite Arsenal’s approach play, that is the only telling moment of attacking quality of the half. Work to do now for Arteta’s team, because United now do not have to change tack and take more risks. Trossard, who gave the free-kick away, and Calafiori have been quite ineffective down the left. Expect to see Martinelli and Lewis-Skelly in the second half.
05:21 PM GMT
45+3 minutes: United 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal have a corner, won by Nwaneri, in what will surely be the last passage of play in the half. The ball runs right across the box and Arsenal clear. The home crowd are then not happy when Taylor blows his whistle when Fernandes looked to send United away on the break.
05:18 PM GMT
GOOOOALL! Fernandes buries the free-kick
United have barely mustered an attack so far, but one piece of Fernandes brilliance has them in front. Beckham-esque in front of the Stretford End, up and over the wall and beyond Raya. Gary Neville suggesting that Arsenal’s wall was too far back. Arteta will be focused on the error that led to the free-kick.
05:17 PM GMT
45 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Gary Neville describes United as “a non-entity” in the first half, but they remain level.
And now they have an opportunity. Calafiori with a loose header down and Garnacho won the second ball in front of Trossard who hacked the winger down at the expense of a yellow.
Free-kick in a shooting position, right of centre 25 yards out. Fernandes to take surely. There will be four minutes of added time.
05:13 PM GMT
41 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal with another long spell of possession in the United half but it ends with a cleared Calafiori cross before Partey is penalised for a flailing arm.
Forty minutes in and Amorim will be delighted to have got to this stage with the game goalless. "We need to survive" he said in advance of this game. They're doing that relatively comfortably up until now, with Arsenal looking short of ideas in attack, even if they are the only team trying to attack. United have numbers behind the ball and haven't really asked any question of Arsenal up to now going forward.
Forty minutes in and Amorim will be delighted to have got to this stage with the game goalless. “We need to survive” he said in advance of this game. They’re doing that relatively comfortably up until now, with Arsenal looking short of ideas in attack, even if they are the only team trying to attack. United have numbers behind the ball and haven’t really asked any question of Arsenal up to now going forward.
05:10 PM GMT
39 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
An opening for Arsenal in the United box but Rice overhits his pass towards Trossard. Lovely feint from Calafiori to help evade a half-hearted United press and Arsenal are out again. Nwaneri caught offside, not for the first time so far.
05:08 PM GMT
37 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
United have completely abandoned any hint of pressing Arsenal high up the pitch, or they are simply too leggy to attempt. Groans from the crowd as Gabriel, Raya and Rice pop the ball around Zirzkee with ease. But all the while Arsenal do not score, United are very much in this.
05:05 PM GMT
34 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
United’s best piece of football, playing their way out of pressure in their own half, but unusually Fernandes’ pass in the final third let him down and Saliba intercepted.
Arsenal broke, and Odegaard scooped a pass towards Trossard in the six-yard box but he could not quite gather it.
05:03 PM GMT
32 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Raya shows Onana how it is done, clipping a pass into Nwaneri’s feet in midfield who turns out of pressure and spreads play into space left. Calafiori looks for the early cross into Merino but he was never getting there.
Then Trossard gathered the ball in at the edge of the box with a brilliant touch but flashed a right-footed cross wide of the far post. Closest Arsenal have come, but their stranglehold is increasing.
05:00 PM GMT
30 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
A more incisive pass into the box from Arsenal and Timber gets in behind Dalot but he is penalised for handball. It looked like the ball hit his stomach. Boos from the home fans when Onana boots another out of play.
04:59 PM GMT
28 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Trossard wins another corner. Arsenal need a bit more from him and Calafiori on that flank, most attacks are flowing down the right. Perhaps that is an attempt to target Dalot and Yoro. Onana claims the corner easily, but makes a right hash of his kick from hands and Arsenal have it back.
04:57 PM GMT
26 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Play stops after a clash of heads between De Ligt and Merino ran into each other inadvertently. United fans not happy because Mazraoui had emerged from the three-way duel with the ball. Arsenal restart play. I’d have thought that would be a United ball. An Arsenal attack ends with a blocked Partey shot and then a foul for a Rice push.
04:54 PM GMT
24 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Another Arsenal attack breaks down at the edge of the box. Their full-backs caused all manner of problems with some mad runs forward into the box against PSV. It feels like they need more of that chaos from Timber and Calafiori down to break down this United block.
Right idea from De Ligt to lift a cross into the Arsenal box but it was too high for Zirkzee at the back post.
04:52 PM GMT
21 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Nwaneri has not quite got to grips with the game yet, perhaps natural on his first Old Trafford appearance. Until Arsenal score the first goal there will be a degree of anxiety given their current striking options and recent Premier League record.
04:50 PM GMT
19 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
United with another foray down their right and Arsenal’s left, that looks their most likely route to goal so far. The cross was blocked comfortably by Gabriel.
Arsenal begin another spell of possession around the United box, but Odegaard shot’s shot from 25 yards is straight at Onana. Almost every United player back defending there.
04:47 PM GMT
16 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal back on the front foot, and Calafiori’s cross deflects behind for a corner which Rice will take. These have been a problem for United but Onana punches clear. Arsenal keep United penned in though.
04:46 PM GMT
15 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Odegaard has started very brightly in a comfortable Arsenal start. The only danger appears to be finding the game too easy in such a way that the intensity drops and their movement becomes static. Onana still to be tested.
Another promising break from United though: Nwaneri caught on the ball centrally before Fernandes releases Garnacho down the right. A driven shot from a tight angle runs across goal fairly harmlessly in the end.
04:43 PM GMT
12 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Yoro looks to have taken some kind of tablet and is off the pitch receiving some treatment.
A loose pass from Nwaneri in the final third offers United the chance to break forward, with Garnacho too quick for Calaifiori down the right. The winger was then penalised for handball in the box after play was recycled.
04:40 PM GMT
10 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
First decent chance of the game for Arsenal, Odegaard playing a one-two with Rice on the edge of the box before Merino strode onto it. He tried to reverse a shot back towards the near corner but the ball whistled wide. Yoro down and receiving some treatment in the box.
04:39 PM GMT
8 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
United trying to squeeze high and narrow around Partey, but Raya picks out a lovely pass to Merino wide right which sends Arsenal away. Odegaard with a chipped pass into box which Rice took on his chest but the ball would not fall for the shot. United are really trying to block up the middle of the pitch. Arsenal keeping the ball in front of them at the moment.
04:37 PM GMT
6 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
United with their first piece of possession in the Arsenal half but Saliba volleys clear Dalot’s cross. Sloppy square throw-in from Timber gave Partey a problem, and Garnacho won the race to the ball. United free-kick just beyond halfway but no yellow card.
Decent delivery from Eriksen towards Casemiro but the ball runs through for an Arsenal goal kick.
04:35 PM GMT
4 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal establishing dominance of territory very quickly, Saliba and Gabriel on the halfway line. Merino turns and tries to scoop a through ball into the run of Rice but it is slightly overhit.
Very nervous moments on the ball at the back for United, Yoro with no options on the left. Played a scratchy pass inside to Lindelof who was pressed by Trossard and the ball almost ran free for Merino in the box.
04:33 PM GMT
2 minutes: United 0 Arsenal 0
Lindelof is playing in the centre with Yoro on the left. Without Shaw and Martinez, there is no natural left-sided defender in the United squad.
Within the first minute, Odegaard drops to receive the ball from Raya and cut through United’s midfield. The pass was into Trossard who set the ball back for Rice. Timber runs into the box and wins a throw deep in United territory.
04:31 PM GMT
KICK OFF!
Arsenal get the game started. United will kick towards the Stretford End in the first half.
The camera flashes to 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri before the game. For all United’s problems, playing in front of a full Old Trafford as an away player at that age remains a test of nerve. He has looked up to it so far.
04:28 PM GMT
The players are in the tunnel
The Stone Roses’ This Is The One soundtracks the players walking out, as ever. One wonders if Sir Jim Ratcliffe might like to leave the country after today to one of his many boltholes. Those first few bars of the song did not quite make away fans feel as worried as they once did. Arsenal are wearing their blue third kit today.
04:16 PM GMT
Arteta speaking pre-match
We have a big opportunity in a beautiful stadium to be ourselves and earn the right to win the game.
They have been quite consistent in their approach, but obviously the profiles of players changes everything in football and they change some things today.
Riccy [Calafiori] was really good when he came on as well and he gives us a different dynamic on that left flank which I think we are going to need today.
[What’s the gameplan?] It’s just an attitude and way of behaviour, how we approach games and how dominant we want to be.
04:15 PM GMT
The protests get close to the ground
04:13 PM GMT
Amorim speaking pre-match: Suggests United will not play directly against Saliba and Gabriel
We are going to face a very good team who have everything under control in Europe.
We are just focussing on this game, of course we have to rotate some players to give some freshness to the team.
I considered [playing more youngsters], but this game is really important so I do not want to do that.
We know what kind of team we are going to face, any sort of bad result is a problem, nothing better than a good result and performance to face the next one.
It’s freshness [Hojlund being on the bench]. He was really fatigued at the end of the game. We know the two centre-backs [Saliba and Gabriel], what they want and what they like, so we try to do different things to surprise the opponent.
04:04 PM GMT
Biggest United protests since 2022
This is the largest United fans’ protest since Ratcliffe bought a minority stake in the club and took over its day to day running 13 months ago. The last time United supporters were out in quite this force at Old Trafford was Erik ten Hag’s third game in charge, against Liverpool, in August 2022.
04:03 PM GMT
The tactical battle
As we see quite frequently against Amorim’s United, there is a difference in shape between the two teams. United have their back three and wing-backs against Arsenal’s back four (although when Arteta’s team have the ball it will be anything but).
I always think the conundrum for the manager in charge of the back four is who presses the wing-backs? Do you drop your wingers, allowing the three defenders easy possession, or ask your full-backs (Timber and Calafiori) to jump all the way to the wing-backs (Mazraoui and Dalot). That is more aggressive but risks leaving space down the sides of the centre-backs.
I expect Arsenal to go with the second strategy. Other than Garnacho, there is not much pace in United’s attack and Saliba and Gabriel excel at sweeping up in the channels.
03:55 PM GMT
Fortunately for Arsenal’s defence, this is not the United front three
03:45 PM GMT
Some of Gary Neville’s pre-match thoughts
You’d hang on the hope that maybe the manager needs a pre-season. I’m struggling at the moment.
The fans are angry, they’re going to protest today. Man Utd have gone from the richest football club in the world to not being able to feed their own staff - it’s a massive demise.
The debt, the poor recruitment, the lack of ability to find a performance. They’re 15th in the league and I never thought I would see Man Utd 15th in the league.
This season is a bit of a write-off.
03:37 PM GMT
A rather gloomy march towards the ground
03:33 PM GMT
James Ducker has been among the protests
Thousands of Manchester United fans are out in force marching from the Tollgate pub to Old Trafford in protest at the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership of the club. “We want Glazers out” and “Love United and Hate Glazer” are being sung on repeat along with more some more unsavoury chants. Ratcliffe is not escaping their fury either. “Just like the Glazers, Jim Ratcliffe’s a c---” is one chant aimed at the British billionaire. The banners tell their own story: “RIP fan culture 1878-2025”, “Loyalty > Greed”, “We want our club back”, “£1 billion stolen”, “Sell United and f--- off home MUFC”, “Death by 1,000 cuts”. You can feel the anger.
03:29 PM GMT
Assessing the two teams
United (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Lindelof; Mazraoui, Eriksen, Casemiro, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
Arsenal: (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Odegaard, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Ugarte and Maguire lose their race to be fit, which is a blow for United. We shall wait to hear just how close they were to a return, but it would be no surprise if they were omitted with an eye on Real Sociedad. United fans will be concerned to see the fateful Eriksen-Casemiro pivot reprised, particularly against the punchy running of Rice and Odegaard.
That is probably Arsenal’s strongest front seven, plus David Raya in goal. It is only the front three where they are under-strength, though Martinelli is back as a viable attacking change from the bench. Calafiori starts at left-back, an immensely fun player to watch who has a goal and defensive lapse in him. Arteta perhaps taking Lewis-Skelly out of the line of fire at a venue where there has been plenty of aggro down the years.
03:24 PM GMT
Herein lies fan culture
03:18 PM GMT
Arsenal team news: Calafiori starts at left-back, Martinelli returns to squad
Starting XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Odegaard, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Zinchenko, White, Lewis-Skelly, Sterling, Jorginho, Martinelli
03:16 PM GMT
United team and subs: No Maguire or Ugarte, Zirkzee leads line
03:13 PM GMT
The chants have begun in earnest
03:12 PM GMT
There’s no space on a trident for four heads but they managed
03:09 PM GMT
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03:07 PM GMT
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03:04 PM GMT
Protests under way outside the Tollgate pub
02:59 PM GMT
Arsenal appear the fresher and less distracted team
This feels like a markedly low-stakes renewal of Manchester United vs Arsenal, with the home team diverted by Europa League commitments and the flame of Arsenal’s title challenge being more or less extinguished.
Nevertheless, as January’s FA Cup third-round tie demonstrated, this fixture can develop an intensity of its own once the game kicks off.
While Arsenal are almost certain to fail in their bid to overhaul Liverpool, it still feels important to finish the league season strongly and not allow a feeling of stagnation to creep in. They should be buoyed by their 7-1 Champions League victory in Eindhoven, a result which more or less confirms a quarter-final against Real or Atletico Madrid. That keeps the pot stirring at least in a campaign that was threatening to fizzle out. Arsenal remain short of forward options, but are boosted by the return of Gabriel Martinelli to the matchday squad from a hamstring injury.
Whereas Mikel Arteta can go full bore at today’s game with an all-but dead rubber to follow against PSV, Ruben Amorim has the be mindful of United’s Europa League last-16 second leg against Real Sociedad, poised at 1-1. Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte are in a race to prove their fitness, but Amorim has hinted they will not be risked unnecessarily this afternoon.
United tend to save their best for matches against Arsenal, but those European commitments loom large as the club’s one remaining chance of qualifying for continental competition. There could also be a strange atmosphere at Old Trafford, especially if Arsenal were to score early, with mass protests planned featuring supporters dressed in black to symbolise the club’s demise. There is a chance of 16-year-old striker Chido Obi featuring against his former club. Could he repeat Marcus Rashford’s dream league debut vs Arsenal in 2016?
Arsenal have won the last four Premier League meetings between the teams, though in truth they laboured somewhat in those matches. They required late winners by Eddie Nketiah and Declan Rice at the Emirates, while two goals from corners proved the difference in November. Arteta will want his team to hammer home the gulf between the sides this time around.
Full team news on the way shortly.
