A thunderous strike from Declan Rice earned Arsenal a draw against Manchester United on Sunday, though it offered little relief in their quest to catch Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal asserted dominance throughout the first half at Old Trafford but struggled to convert their control into goals. Their wastefulness was exploited in added time before the break when Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, the team captain, curled a 25-yard free-kick past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who was caught out of position.
Raya turned the tide in the second half, producing stellar saves to deny Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee, keeping the Gunners in the fight. The breakthrough arrived with 16 minutes to go as United’s defense faltered, allowing Rice to fire a brilliant, rising shot beyond Andre Onana at the Stretford End, securing a vital point for Arsenal.
However, the result failed to significantly dent Liverpool’s stranglehold atop the Premier League standings. With one extra game played, the Reds sit 15 points ahead of Arsenal, their lead appearing increasingly unbridgeable. United nearly claimed victory in the closing seconds, only for Raya to pull off a breathtaking double save against Fernandes, preserving the draw.
Arsenal’s next game is a Wednesday night second leg Round of 16 UEFA Champions League fixture against PSV Eindhoven.