'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Neither side could find a breakthrough, but not for the lack of trying. What started as a fairly dull game turned quite quick and feisty as it went on. Arsenal's move to play three sitting midfielders with little to offer in attack except a high work rate worked for a short while as they tried to stifle Manchester United playing through the midfield.
Nonetheless, it allowed Daniel James and Andreas Pereira to take on Calum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac and both of them, at times combining with Paul Pogba harried the Arsenal defence. The opening goal of the game came from a break involving all of those players and an unlikely source in Scott McTominay eventually getting the goal.
Manchester United appeared to be in control of the game for a few minutes at the start of the second half but Arsenal began to creep in and their efforts began to show results culminating in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goal in the 58th minute.
Both Arsenal and Manchester United would have chances to take the lead but none of the players could convert to snatch all three points and it ended in a stalemate.
#3 Bernd Leno's heroics
Bernd Leno didn't make many saves on the day, but he made a couple of very important ones that kept his side in the game and perhaps earned them that point. Most notably, he made a save as the time ticked over 90 minutes from a Marcus Rashford freekick to prevent a last-minute winner for the home side.
He made a couple of saves earlier in the game as well that should count for plenty. His save from Andreas Pereira's shot at the end of a mazy run when the score was still 0-0 kept Arsenal in the hunt. The stop from Harry Maguire's unexpected shot from the edge of the box which came at 1-1 was no less either.
Also check out: Premier League Table La Liga Table Champions League Schedule
#2 VAR in the spotlight yet again
Kevin Friend made plenty of decisions in the game that angered both sets of supporters, but perhaps, the most crucial decision came not from the on-field referee, but VAR.
When Bukayo Saka played Aubameyang through on goal and the Gabon international went clean through to dink the ball past David De Gea, Arsenal's joy was stifled by a potential offside call as the linesman's flag was raised.
Ashley Young, who was rushing back towards Aubameyang, saw the flag and raised his arms as he continued to make an attempt to block the shot.
Upon reviewing the incident, VAR allowed the goal with little consideration because Lindelof was playing Aubameyang onside by more than a couple of yards and the video assistant was correcting what appeared to be a howler of a decision by the linesman. This will be a VAR decision that few will argue with, and those who do will be accused of blindness.
#1 Chances falling to the wrong players
A constant feature of Arsenal's play in the entirety of the first half was exposing Axel Tuanzebe in defence as he drifted inside or was caught too high on the pitch. It allowed Nicholas Pepe to often receive the ball in plenty of space, but on at least three occasions, the Arsenal new boy failed to concern De Gea.
Chances would also fall to Bukayo Saka and occasionally Lucas Torreira but none would truly trouble United's custodian. The one time a good chance fell Aubameyang's way, he made Manchester United pay.
The same held true for Manchester United, they created plenty of chances but they fell to the likes of Scott McTominay who did score the opener, but given the choice, wouldn't be leading the line to take shots for the Red Devils.
Both sides failed to get their forwards in scoring positions as they got involved more with build-up play than being available in the middle where they could do more damage. Although, on balance, Rashford had a couple more chances than Aubameyand and still managed to let defenders in and steal the ball away or block his shot.
