Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud
Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Rosicky, Wilshere, Walcott
Arsenal secured a vital point in the race for third place as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Ander Herrera gave the home side the lead with a volleyed finish in the first half before Tyler Blackett deflected Theo Walcott’s cross into his own net with eight minutes remaining. The result means the Gunners need just a point from next week’s final matches against Sunderland and West Brom to avoid a Champions League qualifier in August.
Pre-game
Seeking a first league win against Manchester United in seven attempts Arsene Wenger selected an unchanged lineup for the sixth game in a row; the first time the Gunners had experienced such starting XI stability since a run of George Graham games between December 1993 to January 1994 (stat courtesy of @Orbinho).
First half
After Monday’s defeat it was imperative that Arsenal started brightly. The aim was obviously to steal the ball in midfield, exchange quick passes and get runners beyond the United defence. That was the theory, but in reality we huffed and puffed and actually did very little.
Up front Giroud pressed United’s centre-backs aggressively and did his best to hold the ball up but he lacked support. Were it not for an unorthodox bit of defending from Phil Jones, who headed the ball against the Frenchman while slipping to the floor, he’d have had a clear one-on-one with David De Gea. The steak-faced Jones came close to further embarrassment a couple of minutes later when he nearly caught out his keeper with a rushed back pass. The ball was panicked clear of danger.
For all the Gunners bluster we never really looked like breaking the deadlock. On 29 minutes United accepted the opportunity to do exactly that. As was the case on Monday it was a goal conceded from a ball to the back post. Ashley Young, who’d been a constant thorn in Bellerin’s side, nipped to the byline where Ander Herrera slotted home on the volley at Ospina’s near post. (1-0)
The goal buoyed United who continued to dominate in midfield. By cutting the supply line from the out-of-sorts Cazorla they isolated Ozil and Sanchez and forced the Gunners to play long, hopeful balls from the back. It’s a tactic that only works if you compete for both the first ball and the second. We barely challenged for either and consequently we produced little of merit in the final third. In fact we didn’t register a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
At the other end a run and cross from Mata nearly found Falcao, who resorted to pushing Koscielny on the goal line before a clever free-kick saw Blind’s shot blocked by his own teammate Smalling.
Second half
Arsenal stepped things up in the opening stages of the second half. Bellerin and Monreal provided more support on the flanks and Ramsey started to stretch his legs.
The chances followed. Sanchez slashed over on the volley after a fine knock down by Giroud. The French striker then couldn’t get purchase on an effort of his own after cleverly rolling Smalling. Cazorla hurried a volley that bounced harmlessly into the arms of De Gea before Rojo twice denied Ramsey with fantastic defending.
A double substitution saw Wilshere and Walcott come on for Cazorla and Bellerin. In the absence of the latter Francis Coquelin filled in at right-back. In the same break in play Tyler Blackett replaced Rojo before keeper Victor Valdes came on for the injured De Gea.
The substitutions worked in Arsenal’s favour. After a couple of failed runs Walcott finally used his pace to great and decisive effect. The England winger darted past Tyler Blackett, shaped to cross and hammered a low ball that deflected off the defender and looped over the stranded Valdes into the far side of the net. (1-1)
Giroud had two opportunities to grab a winner in the minutes after the equaliser. First he hit the side netting from close range then he was crowded off the ball after taking down a fine Ramsey pass inside the box.
Happy to take a point Wenger threw on Flamini for Alexis as the game entered five minutes of uneventful stoppage time. Our first point at Old Trafford in six years means we’re up to 71 points and puts us in pole position to finish third. Not too shabby.
Fairly decent result from a fairly uninspiring performance. Bring on Sunderland!
van Persie is a cunt.
Really want to tie Ashley Young to a chair and force feed him bird poo.
You don´t need to force him…
1 point off 3rd. COYR.
Ramsey played very well, especially when moved into the middle. I think he is wasted on the wing, even though he isn’t bad there. MOTM for me.
He was junk early in the game. He improved a lot, especially after he moved, but in the first half we were playing with 10 because he was sitting up there like a wide striker not giving Bellerin any support at all. It tells you something when Theo of all people comes on and suddenly the right flank looks move involved in the game.
it was a Ramsey pass to Theo that got the right flank going
Win our last 2 games, and we’re still 2 points worse off than last season when we were 4th on 79 pts.
But the progress since we were in 8th position after losing to Utd at home on 22 November is not so bad: P24, W17-D3-L4; almost identical to the first 24 games last season: W17-D4-L3 (that was the last time we led the PL).
Make of that what you will…
Interesting stats. We have been good for 2/3 of a season again.
With the improved squad depth we have we can afford to, say, rest Cazorla and put Ramsey central, or get Jack, Gabriel, Theo, Gibbsy etc on more regularly and keep the team fresher for each match. So that will stretch the time we can be doing well next season.
Given this I’m optimistic for next season, especially with a top signing or two.
Really confused as to why we don’t have more rotation with the depth we have. It will keep them fresher and less prone to injury, and it could make it more difficult for other teams to adjust to the different type of player who comes on.
so so bad
Yeah I hate being 1 point off automatic CL qualification with 2 games to go…
i’m talking about how we played -2nd time in a row-
but yeah let’s celebrate the 3rd place while we should have finished 2nd this season because somehow magical we will be 1st next season
i’m not satisfied with my team playing like that and not fixing obvious issues
We were playing at OT where we have been spanked before…great second half comeback! End of.
If you’re gonna assess a teams progress on one smash and grab against Swansea and a poor first half against United then you want your head examined mate.
So back in Sept/Oct you though we’d get 2nd?
Good turn around!
Fair point TTT. Can’t always sugar coat it. We were really poor in the first half. Almost lost it with Sanchez after he lost the ball in our half for the 23425136351th time. Then I remembered he carried us for the first half of the season.
Too much giroud love in here but truth is, we need a new striker. Grioud was in smallings pocket all game. Smalling. That says enough.
Jesus Christ, it happens!!? Did you not see Ronaldo against Juventus?
Same Ronaldo who’s got 55 goals and 17 assists this season? Absolute joke of a reply. Don’t get why people can’t admit he’s just an okay striker and on his best days he’s good or very good at best. For a team like Arsenal who wants to win the league and really challenge in the champions league, we need a better striker. Giroud is just so easy to play against. Most defenders are faster than him which is a joke cos any time players who start loosin a couple of yards with age, people say they should be playin in… Read more »
If you snorted coke each week in a sunny Scottish league of course you’d get 55 goals.
Giroud has scored 14 league goals this season.
We need one point from our last two games to secure 3rd because of our superior goal difference to Man Utd.
Man Utd have scored 62 goals, compared to our 67.
Take away Giroud’s goals and we could’ve been looking at 4th again.
He might not win us the league BUT he does make a difference and for that I can’t knock him.
Giroud has no ruthlessness at all. Doesn’t the smile on his face after misses get on your nerves ? People waste their time discussing the empty worldclass attribute about him. His problem is mental.
Mmm.. I think you have to give him some benefit of doubt because scoring from the chances he had were difficult.
That said, his were not impossible, particularly the near post finish one.
We had only few chances on goal today, so any missed Giroud chances are magnified 1000 times over. Although grabbing a win today would have been f***in great.
Also he is limited. No pace, only one foot, struggles versus the better teams. I like him a lot, so am very mixed about him.
If we had a top, top striker (eg another Henry) then we would be a lot better. But that is fantasy football.
Pace…Giroud’s game limits those behind him as they always have to combine with him rather than just thread him through.
You can see Ozil’s frustration with him sometimes..When he wants a runner..Worst thing is, Giroud actually has good movement, he is just slow.
This is Wenger’s fault not Giroud.
Its Wenger’s fault that Giroud is slow? :O
It’s Wenger’s fault we don’t have another option other than Welbeck who also misfires more often than not.
”Remember the invincibles” excellent team..Go and see the difference between a world class striker and good striker.
We need a top top quality striker with pace and who is ruthless in front of goal. Keep giroud but add to the team. Problem is who is there that fits the bill. Aguero not available, so who? Perhaps coax Thierry out of retirement? Seriously, we probably need to develop a player rather than buy one and that takes time. We, as fans, will not be patient
Danny Welbeck has everything. He’ll learn to finish.Give him one more season
Absolutely. My point about developing a player. Think 2 to 3 seasons is more realistic. I also think AW thought (past tense) sanogo was that player. He clearly isnt
yeah probably, one more injury-free season, he´s just 24…
Simple as that. All this talk of him being the best striker in the league during his purple patch was frankly ridiculous. He’s a good player, just not world class. We need a world class striker to win the title.
I think Wenger knows better then us. But look there’s no such player available in the last transfer window. MAN.U got Falcao, whom salary is worth more than a Wellback. Chelshit got Droga, and Loic Remy. Next season mate.. next season.
I have no doubts about Giroud. I just plain think he’s crap. Even Koscienly would be a better striker.
Another Henry? Who out there today is another Henry? Aguero? Suarez? Good luck getting either. Look. We’ve got to accept that we won’t have an Henry, A Vieira clone or a Bergkamp with us for a while. So, instead Wenger is building a team that can compensate and compliment each other.
Great fighting spirit shown by our boys. I’ll take the draw at OT at this stage of the season. Need to take care of the business v Sunderland and we should be good.
Pleased with the lads for not overstretching for the win and doing another monaco/swansea. A win would have been sweet but a draw does us fine.
Meh.
How I feel about your comment.
Yes. Performance was not good.But I am really satisfied with result. Great result which ensures our top 3 position.
Not quite. 1pt req!
Different team second half, well done boys!
Mike Dean’s a vulture-headed cunt.
Diabolical for an hour..Decent for half hour
To come out after such a poor first half and do that!
Commendable.
COYG!
Really? it couldn’t get any worse.
“Couldn’t get any worse”??? ….Really? ….How about if we lost so we needed to win our last two games instead of needing just one point?
As in the performance dumb shit
Oh, the performance in the first half couldn’t have been worse?
I can think of a few scenarios where it could have been, you d…. s…
Hope those who think Walcott should be sold have seen how useful he can be.
£100,000 + a week is way to much too play for a player who is merely ‘useful’ lol.
Compare Walcott to Welbeck and perhaps The Ox in terms of goal return (which is a critical attribute for attacking players) and you will tell me. He scored 4 being understandably out of form after a very bad injury and having very little game time. When he regains his form, he may very well be our best goalscorer again. Getting at the end of passes and shooting at goal is essential for strikers. Potential best goalscorer for a top four team in the PL should get £100,000.
Got nothing against your comment except the Apple against orange comparison. The balance the others create is not something Walcott has
This maybe true, but sometimes we just need goals.
Credit where it is due but if Wallcot gonna Dutch Skunk his way out, let him go. We have Ox and Serge waiting on the list. Now let’s YouTube for our next season striker. Only Therry mold fit the bill.
That was – Well, 1 point. Frustrating performance in the first 45 mins, Got better in second obviously, but we got the point, so lets move on.
Perhaps Jack should be given a start instead of Santi vs Sunderland. Or just play ramsey though the middle. He looks sooo much sharper in there!
I’ll take this result, 2nd or 3rd is almost the same thing …
No. 2nd means one team better, 3rd doubles that number. This is Arsenal!
Win our last two games, City lose to Southampton and we get 2nd. Failing that, win our last two, City win and we finish the season just two points of second, which isn’t too bad considering the start to the season we had.
And either way, it’s NOT 4th.
When was the last time so many of our players had such I inspired performances? Jeez, they haven’t played for 6 days and it looked like they’d been doing marathons all week. In diving boots.
On their hands.
Ooooooor, Man United had a really organised defence and shut us down.
In the first half Ramsey and Sanchez left their wings completely unmanned and we were outnumbered by Utd in the wide areas. Sanchez had his worst game in an Arsenal shirt. Ozil was missing. Coquelin was poor. Not sure where Cazorla has hidden His arsenal of shots but if he could find before the cup final it would be nice.
Second half was a bit of fluke, but eventually the luck had to run our way. Shocking performance though.
On the plus side, we saw our future. The Ramsey-Wilshere midfield axis. Koscielny was bosscielny.
The second half wasn’t a “fluke”…it was an excellent response to a terrible first half at Old Trafford!
Give the chaps some credit for the second half!
Awful first half, better in the second but that 67th min sub shit needs to stop: The game was crying out for pace well before half time, our front three were passengers and we were too narrow. Credit the eventual sub that led to the goal though. I love Alexis but this was his poorest game. He looks tired mentally and physically so I feel for him. But I want to see us start the next game with him on the bench and theo and wilshere in the side.
Ozil and Santi should be benched alongside him…Both crying out for rests but Wenger playing them into the ground and then will act all surprised when they get injured.
I really don’t know how to feel about this.
Uninspired, obviously….
Good to see the driving runs from jack.! Ideal player when the team is on the back foot!
Agreed, with Jack and Chambo we have two players who can break through defences when we can’t pass around them.
Yes, I would even go on to say that his runs were more mature than before the last injury.
Giroud proving Henry right. He simply cannot bail us out.
Again only played for half a game..
I said before kick off I’d take a draw here and that’s what we got so not overly disappointed just a little annoyed that we rarely apply ourselves for an entire 90 minutes.
Win against Sunderland on Wednesday/Thursday and were set.
we wanted the result, we got the result!
Concrete proof that we need a striker. Thought we lacked fluidity today but I put that down to confidence. Good result though given the performance.
Been on Theo’s case lately so il give him credit today for making a contribution..Earned that own goal by actually beating his man in a 1 vs 1. Santi should have come off at half time..Struggled with United physicality and intensity..Wasn’t up for the fight..This is Wenger’s weakness. Tweak the fucking team to the opposition. Ramsey and Wilshere ran rings around Herrera and Blind. Ozil was quiet but produced a couple of good opportunities for Giroud who continues to prove that he is good just not World class. Sanchez was awful..Like Santi should have been subbed for his own good..Wenger… Read more »
We did to ManU what they’ve been doing to us for far too long.
Boot. Other. Foot.
A moment on the TV in the second half, showed the copious amount of sweat on Ozil’s face, and he just looked full of determination and in the zone (as the whole team looked!)
We really wanted it in the second half!
Nearly beat them!
I am happy.
First time I’ve seen Ozil out-muscle a player this game.
Ozil had a good game but unfortunately everyone else on the team was a yard behind the pace, so it made Ozil look poor. Although I do wish he’d learn to shoot!
Girouds song should be “GDFR”
Going Down For Real.
Well we’ve clearly nailed the away to big teams hoodoo. Imagine our side with De Gea and Aguero. Yeah dreamer blah blah but those are the two position where we’re not world class at the moment. Where else do we upgrade, really?
As much as I love le Coq, his limitation on the ball was exploited by Manure today. He is fantastic when we don’t have the ball, but a bit too limited when we are trying to create. So I think we need an option there as well.
Gooood to see the disappointed united-players and their fans
Give me more chances please
Finish them more often please
Put the ‘off the ball’ effort in and you’d be first choice!
So who still wants to flog Theo then?
Me, a deflection does not erase his failings lol.
That should be ‘crotch’ end gooner
*cue laughter track*
Ozil’s tendency to pass when shooting is the better option is infuriating.
He has a surprisingly poor strike for a left footed player
He said he wants to add goals to his game so I would think that that is something he will work on in preseason. I hope.
Sanchez needs a rest. I’m worried about the copa and how it’ll affect us next season.
Wilshere was sublime absolutely top class. Those bursting runs he makes beating multiple players creating space for others is what we need week in week out. Between Cazorla and Ramsey Im not sure which one to leave out because this Wilshere needs to play, no two ways about it.
Shocking first half. slight improvement in the second. The result was all we deserved really, but it was important not to open the door to Manure nicking third place.
I think some rotating needs to done for the last couple of games. Cazorla who has been great this season, was crap today. I’d start Jack to help build his fitness and confidence. If Welbeck is fit, I’d start him against Sunderland in place of Giroud, who looks a bit lost at the minute. Potentially give Gabriel a game instead of Per. nothing drastic, just some freshness.
What I liked was AW took santi off. He was poor today so we replaced him with jack who shows the depth of squad in most positions. First point at OT for years. It’s been a season of progress and if we win the cup you have to say a successful one. Just need keeper and something better up front but doesn’t everyone? Apart from Chelsea and city
Agreed and maybe an upgrade on the outgoing Flamini.
Should have been at Half time
Not always a fan of Jack but I think his pacey ball control was amazing!
Oh but that match was winnable…
Would have been happier with the win and crush their fan morale.
Surely impossible to be beaten by both Sunderland and West Brom.
Watched till before the hour. Fcking terrible performance once again against man ure. Everyone looked like they would rather be on a beach in summer in the first half. Zero chances of note says it all. It’s a wonder how we got anything at all. Thanks to Theo. There is simply no game plan to face our usual nemesis, and it sucks. First goal – lack of marking was shocking. Someone needs to get stuck in against fellaini and Jones and hard too. On the other hand, man ure and their lovely brand of hit and hope long ball to… Read more »
It’s amazing how when you say it like it is, you get thumbed down.
Are you really fans or are you content with 4th place every year?
Oh well, continue wearing those rose-tinted glasses then. Will get you nowhere.
Maybe he’s getting thumbed down because he said he only watched for an hour, thus missing our best spell of the game
Did Ozil just out muscle Valencia?
We were poor first half. Great second half. Credit to arsene for his tactical change- moving coq to rb and putting wilshere and ramsey in the middle. Got his subs spot on. Giroud once again was poor. His recent run of form shows he’s not someone we can rely on to win the league. We need someone better(not a sub) Impressive cameo by wilshere…hope he starts against sunderland. Ozil had an anonymous first half…was getting into the game in the second before the substitutions. Wilshere presence seems to stifle him. Still one more win and 3rd place is ours…a little… Read more »
As long as we get better every year, that’s fine by me!
Well so will Chelsea, city and manure. Chelsea won’t wait for us to catch up to them and city won’t let us get ahead of them.
Get better league position-wise!
So this dick just told me i’m a plastic because i support Arsenal and i’m not from England so what the fuck should i do go back in time and tell my Mom to leave fucking Jamaica and go to england for fuck sake my family originated from Portugal and Spain so i guess ill support teams from those countries then
Can someone please go meet wenger and persuade him to buy us top top class player especially in striker & DM position. GK too, if he found one very class. I don’t want to see the old arsenal back, i just don’t want. Don’t wanna see us be the main jokes again. And please please, put ramsey back at central midfield he can swap the right flank position with cazorla/theo/jack, ramsey is more effective in the centre.
Rubbish first half… better second… we almost nicked it at the end… Job almost done: even we can’t mess this up now… we need a top-class striker and goalie to win the league…
You keep getting your predictions wrong Fats. I hope your luck changes for the FA Cup Final!
Villa will win
I see what you did there!
Everyone in a hurry to slaughter Giroud. What did Alexis do? Wasted a couple of really good chances and missed like half of his passes. He is a great player and my point is that you shouldn’t judge a player by one match. I think Giroud has looked worse since Ramsey started playing from the right. This match also showed that the team needs more speed fro the front three in this kind of matches, the last time we played united we had Ox-Welbeck-Alexis. The same against City : Ox played on the right then if I remember correctly. This… Read more »
exactly. Alexis was awful today.
And he missed the sitter against Swansea. Alexis to be dropped?
no, but I think the point moreso being that giroud isn’t the only one culpable. many other attacking players were really poor today as well.
It really annoys me when people just seem to come out of nowhere after a bad or disappointing result just to criticize the players. Right now, it’s Giroud being criticized. “He’s not world class”, “he’s limited”, “he has no pace” and all other kinds of bullshit. Just three weeks ago, when Sanchez was running out of steam Giroud was hands down our best player, now he’s shit and we need to replace him. Apperently, we need an Aguero type or a Henry. Newsflash, every team in the world needs an Aguero or a Henry. I would be very happy if… Read more »
“He’s not world class”, “he’s limited”, “he has no pace” All facts… Does not mean he is not a good player, or that he didn’t carry Arsenal at times this season or that we look a better side mostly when he is in it.
Do you not concede we need a striker that has Giroud AND Welbecks attributes in one package rather than spread across the entire front three.
I agree though, who can we buy that is that good.
Tbf I’d love some Higuain
Hasn’t really set the world alight at Napoli. Could be a good addition though but a gamble because of a high fee
He had the chance to join us but he chose Napoli.
He won’t get the chance again!
I’m tired of listening to Lee Dixon over compensating that he is an ex-arsenal player. he’s slighting us at every opportunity he can to show he’s not biased. it unnecessary and we already have a whole slew of media taking the shit on us, we don’t need one of our own to add fuel to it. him, Henry, all great players, but really poor at commentating. they can’t manage when to take bias out and when they’re just talking out of their arse. Dixon a few years ago actually said to arsenal should get rid of arsene. enough said.
I’m tired of listening to Lee Dixon over compensating that he is an ex-arsenal player. he’s slighting us at every opportunity he can to show he’s not biased. it unnecessary and we already have a whole slew of media taking the shit on us, we don’t need one of our own to add fuel to it. him, Henry, all great players, but really poor at commentating. they can’t manage when to take bias out and when they’re just talking out of their arse. Dixon a few years ago actually said that arsenal should get rid of arsene. enough said.
I have been impressed with our defensive improvements this season..Rarely are we stretched for long periods of a game and we hardly get hit on the counter anymore.
After Herrera’s goal we didn’t allow them anything until Van cunt ballooned over the bar.