Manchester United were leading 1-0 with one minute of regulation time to be played but Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain’s cross found Olivier Giroud who headed the ball powerfully past David de Gea to earn a hard-fought point for his team.
Alexis Sanchez started the match for Arsenal after doubts over his participation had crept in after his midweek exertions in the South American World Cup qualifiers. In Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s absence, Marcus Rashford started up front supported by Anthony Martial and Juan Mata. Carl Jenkinson filled in for the injured Hector Bellerin.
United started the stronger of the two sides as Petr Cech was tested by both Mata and Martial in the first half. Antonio Valencia, who was declared the Barclays man of the match was very influential and was pulled down in the box but referee Andre Marriner didn’t point to the spot.
Cech was tested early in the second half as Arsenal could not get a foothold on the match. It was finally Mata who gave United the breakthrough after Herrera’s cut-back found the Spaniard in space to expertly slide it home.
The pressure on Arsenal’s defence mounted as a ball from Valencia almost found its way to Rashford in the box.
It was not to be Jose Mourinho’s day as Oxlade-Chamberlain delivered a beautiful ball into the box for Giroud to meet it perfectly with his head and snatch a late equaliser for Arsenal.
Brief Scores:
Manchester United 1 (Juan Mata) draw with Arsenal 1 (Olivier Giroud)
