In Manchester, a breathtaking performance at Old Trafford saw Arsenal secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. David Raya emerged as the hero for Arsenal by making an incredible double save, thwarting Bruno Fernandes from clinching a last-gasp winner that could have handed United victory. Despite the draw, Arsenal’s title aspirations appear dim, trailing 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
After the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shared his disappointment, saying, “I don’t want to say that, but today the frustration is that we haven’t won our game. We know the urgency and we are obligated to win every single match.” This latest result marks the third consecutive league game without a win for Arsenal.
The game might have tilted in United’s favor if not for Raya’s excellence. In a dramatic stoppage-time moment, the Arsenal goalkeeper made a spectacular diving save against Fernandes, before recovering swiftly to clear the ball away before it crossed the line.
Elsewhere in the league, Chelsea climbed to fourth place after a 1-0 triumph over Leicester City, while Tottenham Hotspur clawed back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth.
Before the kickoff at Old Trafford, Manchester United supporters united in a protest against the club’s current ownership. On the pitch, Ruben Amorim’s team showcased a fighting spirit. Fernandes opened the scoring with a free-kick in first-half injury time, and United could have increased their lead but missed opportunities, including Raya’s saves against efforts from Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui.
Declan Rice equalized for Arsenal in the 74th minute, and it was Raya again who heroically kept Fernandes from scoring a late goal. Amorim acknowledged the need for Manchester United to adopt a more proactive approach to reclaim past glories in both English and European football. “What I can say is we need more Brunos, that is clear,” he asserted, emphasizing Fernandes’ importance to the team’s success.
The draw nudged United up to 14th place in the league standings with 34 points. Following a rather dismal campaign last season where they finished eighth, United currently sits eight points shy of 10th place, occupied by Fulham.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella secured a vital victory for the Blues with a 60th-minute goal that found the back of the net against Leicester. This win vaulted Chelsea into the race for a Champions League place, capitalizing on Manchester City’s prior defeat to Nottingham Forest. City, the league’s four-time defending champions, fell to fifth after the loss.
Cucurella caught Leicester’s goalkeeper Mads Hermansen off guard with a well-placed drive into the corner of the net. Earlier, Hermansen had denied Chelsea the lead by saving Cole Palmer’s penalty, marking Palmer’s first penalty miss in league play after an impressive record.
Tottenham pulled off a remarkable comeback at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Bournemouth initially seized control. Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson scored for the visitors, but Pape Sarr’s mis-hit cross gave Spurs a lifeline. An error from Bournemouth’s Kepa Arrizabalaga handed Spurs a penalty, which Son Heung-min coolly converted, completing their rally to salvage a point.
