Manchester United v Arsenal – story of the match

Posted Monday, April 30, 2018 by PA

Arsene Wenger’s final trip to Old Trafford as Arsenal manager ended in disappointment after Marouane Fellaini’s stoppage-time header secured Manchester United victory.

Nine days after it was announced that the Frenchman would leave the north Londoners after 22 years, the outgoing Gunners boss was given a warm welcome at a ground that has witnessed some of his most unforgettable moments.

But what could prove Wenger’s final duel with old foe Jose Mourinho ended like so many before it, with substitute Fellaini heading home at the death to secure the Portuguese’s side a 2-1 win after former United playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan cancelled out Paul Pogba’s opener.

Tweet of the match

90+1'' – FEEEEELLLLLLLLAAAAAAAIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!
ABSOLUTE SCENES! #MUFC 2 Arsenal 1! pic.twitter.com/RpImKiGhsm
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 29, 2018

Star man

Manchester United v Arsenal – story of the match — Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored Arsenal’s equaliser on his return to Old Trafford (Tim Goode/Empics)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Ended up on the losing side but only because he had long since left the field in preparation for Thursday’s Europa League mission against Atletico Madrid. A graceful performance in attack, using and distributing the ball neatly in a side featuring many inexperienced team-mates. Outshone Alexis Sanchez, who moved in the opposite direction in January.

A fond foe-well

Three #PL legends. One special era.@ManUtd @Arsenal #MUNARS pic.twitter.com/8dkrsFx5BS
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 29, 2018

Arsene Wenger has enjoyed an adversarial relationship with the Red Devils over his long stint in English football, ruffling feathers and at times playing up to his pantomime villain status at Old Trafford. But there was a fulsome send off for the departing Frenchman in the club’s matchday programme. Jose Mourinho called for the crowd to show “the respect he deserves” and Wenger’s old rival Sir Alex Ferguson paid lengthy tribute in an interview segment.

Fact of the day

1 – Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the first player to score for and against Manchester United in the same Premier League season. Devilish. pic.twitter.com/yATUJbWIgn
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 29, 2018

Mkhitaryan became the first player to score for and against United in the same Premier League season when he picked out the bottom corner. He hit the target in the Red Devils’ 4-0 win over Everton back in September.

Ratings

1'' – Arsenal get us under way at Old Trafford. C''mon, #MUFC! #MUNARS pic.twitter.com/WvTGguWhrX
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 29, 2018

Man Utd: David de Gea 6 (out of 10), Antonio Valencia 6, Chris Smalling 6, Victor Lindelof 6, Ashley Young 7, Nemanja Matic 7, Ander Herrera 6, Paul Pogba 8, Jesse Lingard 6, Alexis Sanchez 6, Romelu Lukaku 6. Subs: Marcus Rashford (for Lukaku, 50) 6, Marouane Fellaini (for Herrera, 64) 8, Anthony Martial (for Lingard, 64) 7.

Arsenal: David Ospina 6, Hector Bellerin 7, Calum Chambers 7, Konstantinos Mavropanos 6, Sead Kolasinac 5, Ainsley Maitland-Niles 7, Granit Xhaka 6, Alex Iwobi 5, Reiss Nelson 6, Henrikh Mkhitaryan 8, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 6. Subs: Danny Welbeck (for Nelson, 64) 6, Nacho Monreal (for Kolasinac, 64) 5, Joseph Willock (for Mkhitaryan, 76) 5.