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The chorus was about winning the league on Old Trafford. Not, it turned out, the latest manifestation of Manchester United’s Project 150, but the vocal Arsenal fans, who returned in 2002. In 2025, however, it became clearer at Old Trafford that the Gunners would not win the league and why. With a 15-point deficit, it is only Arsenal itself and Arne lock that cannot admit it is over, a one-horse race after being detained by a one-man team. Bruno Fernandes gave United something they regularly had at home this season – proud – and Arsenal the familiar feeling of disappointment.
“You are obliged to win every game if you want a chance,” said a Mikel Arteta, a bad face. His lasting emotion was ‘frustration’. For many years, a point at Old Trafford has represented an achievement. Now it’s a disappointment. Arsenal broke the records of the Champions League by scoring seven at PSV Eindhoven, but their last three league games produced a lonely goal and just two points. None of the score is enough.
It hardly felt comforting that it could have been worse. David Raya was perhaps punishable and savior; He may have done better for the opener of Fernandes, but he did very well to refuse the United Captain a winner of an injury time, and he jumped on his feet after an initial saving to cling to the ball as he threatened to turn over the line. The Spaniard already had two prompt moments in rapid succession, which made tremendous savings from Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee, and the latter tries to charge an avid rear. “The reality is that David saved us,” Arteta added.
But maybe it was an indication of how far United fell that the result felt better for them. It was just their seventh point in their last eight home league matches; While the other encountered the doomed duo of Southampton and Ipswich, it was at that time as their best result on Old Trafford. And it should be part of the regret for Arsenal: Many other side can now win here. They couldn’t.
They started to look predominant and yet struggled to track. “The first half we had where we were exceptional did not test the watchman,” Arteta mourns. “We had some incredible situations, but we didn’t get the last shot or the last pace.” In contrast, United’s first half of the first half was without positivity and creativity, but it nevertheless led, taking into account Fernandes’ whipped Free Kick. For Arsenal, the irritation was exacerbated by the fact that the defense wall was 11.2 meters back. ‘Football is for Smart Street players. Bruno was smarter than us and the referee, ”Arteta rescued.
Yet the execution was a further reminder of the Portuguese’s ability to arouse United from mediocrity. Roy Keane can create the impression that United would be better off without Fernandes, but a contrary is in an army of one.
“He’s getting up all the time,” says Amorim. “What I can say is that we need more brunos, it’s clear. He is a very good example for the other players. “Over the past few weeks, there have been times when it felt as if Fernandes had tried by hand to ward off the decline and forever wage a lost battle. This time it was at least a drawing fight. Also a strange one with a forgettable first half and an eventful second.
Eventually, the teams had a talisman piece. Declan Rice curls in a shot after Jurrien Timber’s display of tricks on the right flank. Rice’s first Arsenal goal came against United. His latest, such as Fernandes’ free kick, showed inspirational features. Rice continued where he stopped in Eindhoven, prominently in the last third from the beginning, but he also won a wonderful repairs on Rasmus Hojlund, which asked the celebrations of the Arsenal midfielder. The temptation is to deliberately call it, but because the Dane did not record in 20 games, it may not have been. Gabriel Magalhaes also intervened to refuse him a winner.
For Hojlund, there was also a sense of how far he fell. United was without 11 players, a total that reached a dozen when Leny Yoro went down at halftime and the Rookie Ayden sky against his old club skydiving. Hojlund was the only senior presence on the bench, omitted from an underwhelming side. United’s strategy, as it is, is for Fernandes to sponsor them. Ruben Amorim had at least the comfort that tried a temporary cast.
And a draw continued a theme. Some of the best results from the Portuguese came when United were completed underhands: at Arsenal in the FA Cup, in Liverpool, in Manchester City. “Maybe it is acceptable in those games to play in the low block,” Amorim said. “The spirit of following the plan is a good thing, but in the future I want to play another football, more attacked.” Instead, United had only 31.2 percent of possession. But the supporters, whose afternoon began with protests against Glazer, gathered to their case. “This club will never die, it’s clear,” Amorim added. “You feel it in the streets.”
But on the field they can struggle. But they were postponed by the inability of Arsenal. Mikel Merino shot wide early early. Andre Onana rescued from substitute Gabriel Martinelli. However, Arsenal has failed to do something Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Brighton and Crystal Palace. Win on Old Trafford. And this year, anyway, they won’t do something the 2002 team did: win the league.
