Declan Rice’s equaliser denied Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim a crucial win, as Arsenal’s faltering Premier League title hopes took another blow in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Gunners now sit 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, with only one game in hand, and are increasingly focused on holding off the chasing pack for a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Bruno Fernandes’ stunning free-kick gave United the lead in first-half stoppage time, but they couldn’t hold on for just their sixth Premier League win in 16 games under Amorim, as Rice struck 16 minutes from time to level the score.
A point leaves United down in 14th.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was taking charge of his 200th Premier League match.
The Spaniard’s 118 wins in that time places him only behind a stellar cast of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Alex Ferguson in the English top flight.
But his wait for a league title looks set to continue with Arsenal on course to finish second for the third consecutive season.
United have had three permanent managers and an interim during Arteta’s five years in charge of Arsenal.
Amorim said he knows he will not get the time Arteta did to turn around a sinking ship at Old Trafford.
The discontent among the home support could be seen around the stands with many taking part in a protest by wearing black over what they perceive as “the death” of their club.
Arsenal had failed to score in either of their previous two league games to realistically wave goodbye to their hopes of a first title in 21 years.
Despite still missing the attacking quartet of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners hit back in stunning fashion to thrash PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Infused with fresh confidence, Arsenal started on the front foot but again missed the focal point of a natural centre-forward.
Midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to deputise up front in recent weeks and fired wide from the edge of the area with an early opening.
United have struggled to score throughout the season, but their captain, Bruno Fernandes, has remained a constant source of inspiration. He delivered once again with a stunning free-kick just before half-time.
There will be questions about Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s starting position, but Fernandes still had to curl the ball over an imposing wall and into the visitors’ net.
Raya rescues Arsenal at Man United
If Raya was at fault for the opener, he made amends with a string of saves in the second period.
Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee were the first to be denied as United threatened a second on the counter-attack.
Arteta was able to throw on Martinelli on his return from a hamstring injury in the hunt for an equaliser.
Instead, it was Rice who matched Fernandes’ fine finish by arrowing a shot beyond Andre Onana from Jurrien Timber’s pass.
Amorim had dropped Rasmus Hojlund to the bench after a run of 19 games without a goal.
The Dane twice had chances to snap that streak only to be foiled by desperate Arsenal defending.
More Raya heroics followed to stop Fernandes from snatching a winner as the match entered stoppage time.
However, a draw did little for Arsenal’s title challenge.
Arteta’s men edge four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest and eight clear of Manchester City in fifth in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.