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Martin Rickett
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Man Utd v Arsenal, Premier League

It was Jose v Arsene once again.

Arsene Wenger has had 11 league meetings to beat Jose Mourinho but he’s not yet managed it.

Can he do it today at Old Trafford — and make it a first Gunners’ win there in a decade?

Here are your teams ahead of a 12.30 kick off. What do you think of these:

Manchester United: de Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian, Carrick, Herrera, Mata, Pogba, Martial, Rashford.

Subs: Depay, Rooney, Lingard, Blind, Young, Romero, Schneiderlin.

Arsenal: Cech, Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Elneny, Walcott, Ozil, Ramsey, Sanchez.

Subs: Gibbs, Gabriel, Giroud, Ospina, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Xhaka.

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).

The hangover continues.

Jose’s on Sky Sports talking about his decision to leave his skipper out: “I decided to leave Wayne on the bench. Everything is a process. I have to analyse everything all together. We go with Martial. Fitness is fine, he came back with a little thing and after a couple of days of treatment he was fine.”

The Stone Roses’ This Is The One booms from the Old Trafford PA as normal and we’re almost ready to kick off.

Man Utd kick off and we’re up and running.

First shot on goal for United comes through a Juan Mata free kick.

He tried to curl it in to the far post rather than go over the wall but he couldn’t make it count.

Bright start from the home side so far though.

Big chance for the Gunners.

Walcott, I think, flicks on to Sanchez in front of the United goal but the Chilean striker heads wide.

Alexis Sanchez has been booked for a tackle from behind on Sanchez.

This is a real full-blooded contest so far and is very enjoyable.

Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League - Old Trafford Martin Rickett Martin Rickett

Ander Herrera gets a rendition of his song despite wasting a possible chance with a wild shot.

Oooh Carrick leaves a backpass short but De Gea is quick off his line and clears any danger.

Darmian’s surely on his final warning after leaves the boot in on Jenkinson but isn’t booked.

Mourinho is absolutely fuming on the sideline.

Valnecia turned Monreal in the box and the pair then went to ground. The United faithful think Valencia was pulled down but it would’ve been a soft one if awarded. The ref’s having none of it anyway.

Great save from Cech. Mata picks up the ball in front of the box and gets off a good left-footed shot but his former Chelsea teammate palms it around the post.

Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League - Old Trafford Martin Rickett Martin Rickett

More United pressure and Cech makes too solid saves from MArtial.

First, the Frenchman drives into the box and shoots, forcing the Gunners keeper to push the ball behind.

From the corner, the ball ultimately drops to Martial again outside the box. After a touch to get the ball out from under his feet, his shot is straight at Cech.

Jamie Redknapp on the Sky commentary says that Valencia incident would have been a spotter under Fergie.

Half-time: Man Utd 0 Arsenal 0

Well, that was full of incident.

Darmian could have been booked three times, Valencia might have had a penalty and the likes of Martial and Sanchez could well have broken the deadlock.

Gary Neville’s been pretty critical of United throughout and Mourinho is gone to Level Three Jose already.

The second half should be interesting.

And we’re up and running for the second half with Ryan Giggs’ words: “I just hope the teams don’t settle for a draw.”

Martial and Rashford are causing plenty of trouble for the Arsenal defence who look vulnerable in this second half.

The home side are piling on the pressure.

Martial absolutely wastes a free kick from out by the corner flag. Hugely frustrating for the Old Trafford crowd.

Affectionate ribbing from the Stretford End?

One to impress your friends tonight.

Wayne Rooney’s introduced by Mourinho in place of Martial. The dropped England skipper gets a big ovation from the home supporters.

And Darmian will not, surprisingly, be sent off today.

The Italian makes way for Daley Blind.

Feels like United are turning the screw now. Arsenal haven’t offered a whole lot in this second half and they’ll be glad to get out of here with a draw if possible.

GOAL! Man Utd 1 Arsenal 0

It’s been coming.

Juan Mata breaks the deadlock after 68 minutes or so. Pogba put Herrera into the box. The Spain international pulled the ball back from the sideline and who was there but his international colleague who first-timed it home.

Mata was subsequently booked for his celebration, which sends Gary Neville into a good rant about a ‘ridiculous rule’.

Rojo, of all people, had a chance to wrap that up. He outjumped Sanchez at the back post but headed wide.

Xhaka’s on for Coquilen meanwhile.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has come on for Jenkinson in what looks like a straight swap. Maybe he’ll get up and down a bit more from the right side.

An insipid Arsenal performance needs an injection of something in these last few minutes.

Juan Mata’s afternoon’s work is done. Schneiderlin comes on in a very Mourinho late-game substitution.

GOAL! Man Utd 1 Arsenal 1, Giroud 89′

Moments after Gary Neville labels their performance ‘really pathetic’, Arsenal have equalised!

And it was two of Wenger’s subs who’ve combined to do so.

Oxlade-Chamberlain sends in a a cross, Giroud arrives and hangs before smashing a header past DDG.

What a sickener for United. We’re into added time.

Full-time: Man Utd 1 Arsenal 1

So what about that?

Manchester United absolutely dominated Arsenal but were pegged back at the end.

Arsenal were insipid, their manager is yet to beat Mourinho in a league game and their 10-year wait for a win at Old Trafford continues. But they’ve bagged a bog point.

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‘It was 3 in the morning, I went back to the training ground and he was in his office watching a game’

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