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Thursday 13 February 2014

Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United: Gunners waste chance to move top


 
Played
February 12, 2014 8:45 PM WAT
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee:‬ M. Clattenburg‎
Attendance:‬ 60021‎
 
Top of the Match
Laurent Koscielny
Laurent Koscielny
Arsenal Fc
Mesut Özil
Mesut Özil
Arsenal Fc
Flop of the Match
Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud
Arsenal Fc
Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud
Arsenal Fc

Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United: Gunners waste chance to move top

Arsene Wenger's men were unable to capitalise on Chelsea's slip up, as Wojciech Szczesny was twice forced to make important saves to deny former team-mate Robin van Persie

Mesut Ozil Juan Mata Arsenal Manchester United EPL 12022014
Getty Images
Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night to miss out on the chance to move to the top of the Premier League.

With Manchester City's clash with Sunderland postponed due to bad weather and Chelsea failing to beat West Brom a day earlier, victory would have taken the Gunners to the summit.

However, in a game where neither side offered enough offensively to win, Arsene Wenger's men were only able to move within a point of leaders Chelsea and two ahead of City.

David Moyes' side, who were frustrated by a late Fulham equaliser on Sunday, have now won just one of their last five Premier League outings and remain seventh.

VIEW FROM OLD TRAFFORD
By Declan Taylor

Who would have thought, out of Wednesday's game, that this would be the dud. Manchester United, although their performance was abject, will be happiest with this point away from home.

Arsenal attacked for most of the second half but just could not find a way through. They have now taken one point from their last two in the league – and must now welcome Liverpool to the Emirates in the FA Cup on Sunday. It really is crunch time for the Gunners.
Former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie almost put the visitors ahead after just two minutes, dispossessing Mikel Arteta before firing straight at Wojciech Szczesny.

In a lively opening, Jack Wilshere was then well tackled by Patrice Evra, having looked to have fashioned a chance on goal, before Olivier Giroud shrugged off his marker and headed wide from a corner.

Van Persie should have tested Szczesny again after 18 minutes but he sliced an effort way wide of goal after Juan Mata's through-ball - much to the delight of the home fans.

Both sides were let down by poor touches in the final third, with Giroud again getting on the end of a corner to head wide after 24 minutes.

With neither side creating many further chances, the only other incident of note before the break was an aerial collision between Rafael da Silva and Giroud.

The Manchester United man landed awkwardly after challenging with the Frenchman for a header, and was replaced by Rio Ferdinand at the break.

While the first half ended at fast pace, the second began slowly - with both defences easily able to cope with what was thrown at them.

The first chance of the half went to Arsenal, with Laurent Koscielny's header cleared off the line by Antonio Valencia from a Santi Cazorla corner a minute after the hour.

Arsenal piled on the pressure from there, with Giroud nudging Bacary Sagna's cross marginally past David de Gea's right-hand post 14 minutes from time before Van Persie's header was tipped onto the crossbar by Szczesny three minutes later.

De Gea was called into action again once more before full-time, getting a strong right hand to Cazorla's effort before tipping it around the post. ------------ goal.com

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