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Juan Mata being pursued by Alexis Sanchez. PA Wire/Press Association Images
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Manchester United v Arsenal, Premier League

Could United overtake the Gunners into third?

IN THEIR FINAL home game of the season, Manchester United are aiming to secure a victory against Arsenal which would see them leapfrog the Gunners into third place in the Premier League table.

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Good afternoon, folks. It’s Old Trafford today for the final time this season as Manchester United look to bump Arsenal out of the top three. We should be set for a cracker and we’ll keep you updated on all the action here throughout the game.

Here’s how the teams will line up…

Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Mata, Blind, Herrera, Young, Fellaini, Falca. Subs: Valdes, Blackett, McNair, Di Maria, Januzaj, van Persie, Wilson.

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud. Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Rosicky, Wilshere, Walcott.

Although they were victorious there in the FA Cup back in March, Arsenal have only taken one point from a possible 21 in their last seven away league games against United. Will they end their poor run of form at Old Trafford today?

Fifteen minutes to kick-off. It’d be nice to see a bit of old-school United versus Arsenal drama today…

Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Manchester United v Arsenal EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

We’re underway for what could potentially be David de Gea’s last game as a Manchester United player at Old Trafford. How do United fans feel about that?

Arsenal break as Giroud plays in Sanchez but he’s dispossessed on the edge of the United box by Blind.

Young cuts in from the left for United but his shoot goes well off target.

Great cross from the left by Young is headed clear by Koscielny. Now it’s a corner for United after Falcao has an effort blocked.

United putting on the pressure. Ashley Young, who’s had a good season, has started well for the home side.

Fellaini went down under a challenge from Mertesacker but no penalty for United.

Juan Mata’s free-kick from just outside the box is comfortably saved by Ospina.

Looks like Falcao needs a change of boots. He’s like Bambi on ice at the moment.

Giroud appeared to be in there for Arsenal after a slip by Jones but his touch was too heavy, much to United’s relief.

GOAL! Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0 (Ander Herrera, 30)

Ashley Young’s cross from the left found Ander Herrera at the back-post and he finished excellently on the half-volley to give the hosts the lead.

Young causing problems for Arsenal again but his pass just missed Mata. Then Arsenal broke but Ozil’s ball was too heavy for Giroud.

Good chance for Falcao from Mata’s cross but he’s penalised for a push on Koscielny.

Giroud is down after being shoved into an advertising hoarding by Jones. They’ve been having a great battle.

Mata’s free from the left was played to Blind, whose shot appeared to be heading in until being inadvertently blocked by Chris Smalling.

Half-time: Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0

Louis van Gaal will be the happier of the two managers after a good first 45 minutes for his men…

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester United v Arsenal - Old Trafford PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Arsenal haven’t had a shot on goal yet. Can Arsene Wenger’s side get back into this in the second-half?

Angel di Maria appears to be really enjoying watching on from the bench…

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester United v Arsenal - Old Trafford PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The second-half is underway at Old Trafford with United holding a slender lead thanks to Ander Herrera.

Good cross by Valencia from the right but Mertesacker prevents Fellaini from getting his head to it.

Nice interchange of passes between Herrera, Mata and Fellaini but Young’s final ball is poor.

United’s U21 team, who won their Premier League, paraded the trophy at half-time…

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester United v Arsenal - Old Trafford PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Nice flick-on by Giroud into the path of Sanchez but the less said about his half-volley the better. At least it was a shot on goal, finally, for the visitors.

Good strike from distance by Marcos Rojo but it’s easily saved by Ospina.

Regarding Arsenal’s failure to have a shot on goal in the first-half, that’s something which hasn’t happened in a league game since November 2004.

Ander Herrera’s first-half goal is still the difference between the teams…

supercalcio / YouTube

Falcao waves (goodbye?) to the Old Trafford crowd as he’s replaced by Robin van Persie.

Ozil’s cross finds Giroud but the Frenchman is denied by David de Gea. Arsenal are finally coming into this game.

Another decent chance for Arsenal — this time for Cazorla — but he fails to make good contact. This is the Gunners’ best spell of the game so far.

Sanchez’s ball over the top finds Ramsey, who flicks it over De Gea only for Rojo to clear it away for a corner.

Two changes for Arsenal: Walcott and Wilshere are on in place of Bellerin and Cazorla.

United are changing their goalkeeper. David de Gea looks to have picked up a knock so Victor Valdes is on for his debut. Blackett has also replaced Rojo.

Adios, David?

Ten minutes remaining here. Can Arsenal snatch an equaliser or will it be back-to-back defeats for the Gunners?

Manchester United 1 Arsenal 1 (Blackett OG, 82)

Arsenal are back on level terms. Walcott’s low cross was deflected beyond the reach of Victor Valdes.

Arsenal fans thought they had taken the lead there as Giroud’s close-range shot struck the side-netting.

Fellaini tees up Van Persie but his right-footed half-volley goes well over.

Flamini comes on to replace Sanchez for Arsenal. A minimum of five minutes of added time to be played, so still plenty of time for this game to be won.

Ashley Young shades it from Aaron Ramsey as Gary Neville’s man of the match on Sky Sports.

Full-time: Manchester United 1 Arsenal 1

So United and Arsenal share the spoils, despite the Gunners’ failure to have a single shot on goal in the first 50 minutes. Arsene Wenger’s side stay third, two points clear of United and with a game in hand, so it looks like Louis van Gaal will have to settle for a fourth-place finish in his first season in charge.

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