Manchester United and Arsenal battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, with Bruno Fernandes’ stunning first-half free-kick canceled out by a late Declan Rice strike.
Despite Arsenal’s early dominance, the hosts struck first against the run of play, before the visitors finally broke through in the latter stages to claim a share of the points.
Arsenal started brightly, controlling possession and keeping Manchester United pinned inside their own half.
The Gunners pressed high and dictated the tempo, but their efforts failed to translate into clear-cut opportunities. Onana was largely untroubled in the opening exchanges, making routine saves from efforts by Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino.
Manchester United, meanwhile, struggled to find a foothold but remained defensively compact, often reverting to a five-man backline to absorb Arsenal’s pressure.
Their plan was clear: soak up possession and strike quickly on the counter. However, they were largely ineffective until the closing moments of the first half.
Then, in first-half stoppage time, United stunned Arsenal. Alejandro Garnacho won a free-kick 25 yards from goal after being brought down by Leandro Trossard. Up stepped Fernandes, who curled a sublime effort over the wall and beyond the reach of Raya into the net.
Somehow… the points are shared 😳⚖️#MUFC || #MUNARS
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 9, 2025
It was United’s first shot on target and a moment of pure quality, sending them into the break with an unexpected lead.
Buoyed by their goal, Manchester United began the second half with more intent. Garnacho proved a lively presence, frequently taking on his full-back and forcing Raya into action.
The Argentine created a golden chance for Noussair Mazraoui, whose volley from a tight angle was kept out by the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Arsenal, however, slowly regained their grip on the game. They continued to push forward, forcing the Gunners into speculative efforts from distance. Odegaard came closest, rifling a powerful strike that Onana acrobatically tipped over the bar.
The visitors’ persistence finally paid off in the 74th minute. Jurrien Timber, who had been a constant threat down the right, dribbled past two defenders and cut the ball back to the edge of the box. Rice met it first-time, striking a sweetly hit shot that flew past Onana and in off the post. The goal was no less than Arsenal deserved, and it set up a tense final period.
The last 15 minutes saw both teams push for a winner. Garnacho skimmed the crossbar with a powerful strike, while Fernandes saw a goal-bound effort dramatically clawed away by Raya in stoppage time. At the other end, Martinelli tested Onana with a fierce shot at the near post, but the United keeper was equal to it.
In the end, neither side could find a second goal, and it was stalemate between two of football’s biggest clubs.
