Manchester United Frustrated as Arsenal Grab Late EqualizerManchester United Frustrated as Arsenal Grab Late Equalizer Manchester United’s hopes of closing the gap on Arsenal in the Premier League were dashed as the Gunners snatched a dramatic late equalizer to secure a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday. United started brightly and took the lead after just 17 minutes through Marcus Rashford. The England international latched onto a through ball from Bruno Fernandes and curled a precise shot into the bottom corner. However, Arsenal responded well and equalized just seven minutes later. Granit Xhaka’s low cross found Eddie Nketiah at the far post, and the striker calmly slotted home from close range. The game remained evenly poised until the second half, when United regained the lead through Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine defender rose highest to meet Fernandes’ corner and powered a header into the net. United looked set to hold on for a vital three points, but Arsenal refused to give up. In the 74th minute, Nketiah pounced on a mistake by Harry Maguire and coolly sidefooted the ball past David de Gea. The equalizer sparked wild celebrations from the Arsenal players and fans, while United were left to rue their missed opportunity. The draw leaves Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table, with United now facing an uphill battle to catch their rivals. United manager Erik ten Hag admitted his frustration after the game. “It’s a pity we didn’t win,” he said. “We had a lot of opportunities but we couldn’t finish them. We have to learn from this and improve.” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team’s resilience. “We showed great character today,” he said. “We never stopped believing and we got our reward in the end.” The result leaves United in fifth place in the Premier League table, eight points behind Arsenal and facing a fight to secure a top-four finish. Arsenal, on the other hand, will be buoyed by their victory and will look to extend their lead at the top of the standings in the coming weeks.
