Manchester United vs. Arsenal: Score and Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Olivier Giroud snatched a point for Arsenal in their trip to Old Trafford on Saturday, as his 89th-minute header cancelled out a sensational Juan Mata strike to steal a 1-1 draw for the visitors.

The Gunners struggled to muster a challenge in their trip to the Theatre of Dreams and failed to record a shot on target until Giroud’s towering attempt late on in the clash, per WhoScored.com.

Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo formed a makeshift centre-back partnership for United in the face of their defensive injuries, while Marcus Rashford deputised for the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Anthony Martial and Mata either side.

For so long, Arsenal didn’t bother United goalkeeper David De Gea, but the London Evening Standard summarised the only statistic that ever matters:

1️⃣ shot on target1️⃣ ⚽️#Arsenal so close to getting away with it!#MUNARS Live ⤵️https://t.co/pMEFgtMaBU … pic.twitter.com/5f6I8RxZ6q

— Standard Sport (@standardsport) November 19, 2016

United got Saturday’s titanic encounter underway on the front foot, and Mata had an early sight on Petr Cech’s goal, whistling his left-footed free-kick past the Arsenal No. 1’s left post.

Football writer Liam Canning highlighted the fine start made by the Old Trafford hosts and commented on United’s formation, which optimised Paul Pogba’s performance:

Manchester United have started brilliantly. Haven’t done so for some time. They look fired up for this. Pogba’s favoured 4-3-3, too.

— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) November 19, 2016

Despite the attention falling at Pogba’s feet, however, it was Rashford who grasped United’s better chances early on, and he almost teed up the opener with a wonderful, dipping cross that just evaded his team-mates in the box.

Just beyond the half-hour mark, Jose Mourinho was left seething on the touchline when referee Andre Marriner declined a penalty appeal from the United chief after Antonio Valencia appeared to be taken down in the Gunners’ area.

Sky Football provided a look at the incident in question, in which Nacho Monreal scrambled to get back to keep Valencia at bay, only to seemingly haul the United man down with a clip of his arm on the attacker’s:

Mourinho is furious as he believes Manchester United should have had a penalty! Hard done by? Live on SS1 now. https://t.co/aalpLkXz1J pic.twitter.com/ytmQn6KzGe

— Sky Football ⚽️ (@SkyFootball) November 19, 2016

The chance for a spot-kick could have given the home side a lead they so dearly craved, and the Daily Mail’s Adam Crafton and FourFourTwo’s Sam Pilger felt Mourinho was justified in his complaint:

I’m with Mourinho on that penalty.

— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) November 19, 2016

That was a clear and obvious penalty for #MUFC. Monreal blocked and brought down Valencia with his arm. Poor decision

— Sam Pilger (@sampilger) November 19, 2016

Arsenal prevented the Red Devils from developing the usual glut in possession they’ve gained in games this season, with the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil inspiring their better chances.

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