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Arsenal 1 Man United 1: Banners and boos but Robin denies Gunners payback



It is not just what has left Arsenal that is the problem, but what remains. Bacary Sagna has been a shadow of his old self for much of the season.

At Manchester United, he would have been replaced by any one of a number of right backs: Rafael, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, even Antonio Valencia can play there. At Arsenal, he is challenged by Carl Jenkinson, so stays first choice.

Meaning he makes the mistake and gives away the penalty that leads to Manchester United’s goal, Robin van Persie scores it and the home fans go home cursing.


Returning: Robin van Persie smashed his penalty home to square the game up at 1-1



Clinical: Theo Walcott put Arsenal a goal to the good after just two minutes



MATCH FACTS



Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Rosicky (Wilshere 62), Arteta, Walcott, Ramsey (Oxlade-Chamberlain 78), Cazorla, Podolski (Gervinho 71)


Subs not used: Mannone, Vermaelen, Monreal, Jenkinson


Booked: Sagna, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Goal: Walcott 2

Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael (Anderson 73), Evra, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Valencia, Carrick, Nani (Giggs 83), Rooney (Hernandez 87), Van Persie

Subs not used: Lindegaard, Buttner, Cleverley, Kagawa


Booked: Rafael, Jones, Van Persie, Evans, Valencia


Goal: Van Persie 44 pen


Referee: Phil Dowd

Attendance: 60,112

Latest Premier League results, fixtures and table

It would have been a lame revenge, defeating a team that had already won the title and spoiling Van Persie’s triumphant return, but it would have been payback of sorts.

They were denied even that. They had to watch the pre-match guard of honour for their deserter captain and his new team-mates and then witness Van Persie scoring with a flourish. Even though he chose not to celebrate, they knew he would have been smiling inside.

Described as almost broody for success by Arsene Wenger before he left, Van Persie returned, knocked up with silverware and vindicated. He left to win the league and he won the league. And if that meant putting up with a few boos and brickbats — well, it was worth it.

There was a banner in the upper tier above the Manchester United supporters in the far corner. YOU CAN’T BUY CLASS — ARSENAL FOREVER, it read.

Not only was it wrong — United’s £24million purchase of Van Persie proved that — it had an unfortunate dual meaning. It was a matter of punctuation.

Add the odd comma, and a couple of full stops, and it becomes: ‘You can’t buy class, Arsenal. Forever.’ Manchester United seem streets ahead now, in terms of success but financially, too.



Denied: Wojciech Szczesny prevents Van Persie from scoring from close range





What a start: Walcott soaks up the atmosphere after his clinical finish in the opening stages



Blast from the past: Arsenal fans watched Robin van Persie net from the spot for United to equalise






TOP OF THE TABLE...



If Arsenal wanted Robert Lewandowski of Borussia Dortmund and United were similarly keen, there would be no contest. Sir Alex Ferguson is cherry picking the best of Arsenal’s squad, not the other way around.

New financial regulations will only cement those positions.

Buying class is what all elite clubs aspire to, but everybody must fall in line behind Manchester United from here.

Yesterday’s was a disappointing result for both teams, really, with Chelsea the real winners of the weekend. The points dropped by Manchester United mean they now cannot overtake Chelsea’s record Premier League points total, set during Jose Mourinho’s first season, 2004-05.

The drawn games from Arsenal, and also Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, mean Chelsea have gained two points on each of their rivals for a Champions League spot. With the hardest run-in of the three contenders, this could yet prove vital.

Arsenal may have settled for a point a few months back when the title race was still live but, facing a United team in celebratory mode and a goal ahead after two minutes, this will go down as a missed opportunity. They had the best of the game, but United looked more dangerous on the counter-attack.



In front: Arsenal players rush to congratulate Walcott after he netted the opener





Understated: Van Persie refused to celebrate after scoring United's first of the afternoon



Dropping the shoulder: Wayne Rooney tries to lose Santi Cazorla in the centre of the park





Dutch of class: Van Persie (right) teases Mikel Arteta by bringing the ball down with aplomb


Stonewaller: Van Persie nicked the ball away from Bacary Sagna (left) in the area

If Wenger’s team had a fault it was a familiar one: that of over- complication at vital moments. The final pass was frequently off or too ambitious, meaning a second half in which Arsenal dominated possession but produced only two memorable goal attempts, including one save from an underworked David de Gea.

That came with four minutes to go from Santi Cazorla 20 yards out. Earlier, Tomas Rosicky had a pop with the outside of his boot, but curled his shot wide.

The first half was little better — plenty of nice football, not much cutting edge. Lukas Podolski had his shot saved after one surging break and another speculative effort from Cazorla forced De Gea into action early on.

Arsenal at their best would have had United’s goal under siege. They certainly had the ball often enough but failed to utilise it to their usual high standard.

Their goal came after two minutes when the match had not strictly taken shape. To the delight of the locals it began with a misplaced pass across midfield by Van Persie that was snaffled up and eventually fed to Rosicky.


Respect: Arsenal players gave the Premier League champions a guard of honour before kick-off





Van Persie






Here he comes: Van Persie was met with a frosty reception as he walked back onto the pitch at the Emirates



Mixed bag: Arsenal fans booed the United players as their players applauded them for their triumph



Defiant: Arsenal fans displayed their unhappiness at Van Persie's move to United

He struck a neatly weighted ball into the path of Walcott who, one on one with De Gea, finished with force if not finesse.

Replays suggested he was offside when he received the pass but, with 88 minutes to conjure an equaliser, United lacked the appetite for a proper argument. Ultimately, it took them half that.

Sagna’s problem was that, having made a huge mistake, he tried to rectify it and ended up making a bigger one.

Giving the ball to Van Persie was the first error. Chasing him down the left flank before making an ill-judged attempt to win a tackle at full pelt from behind, once he was deep in Arsenal’s penalty area, proved to be a more calamitous second.

Extensive replays showed that Sagna may have got the tiniest touch on the ball first, but it would have been impossible to call in real time and was certainly obscure compared to the highly visible effect his challenge had on Van Persie’s legs.

Referee Phil Dowd gave the penalty without hesitation; it was one of those a video team could still be looking at and debating 24 hours later. Van Persie made no mistake, his penalty exploding to Wojciech Szczesny’s left.

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