Man Utd 2 Arsenal 2: Jesse Lingard rescues point after thrills and spills at Old Trafford

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Malik Ouzia @MalikOuzia_5 December 2018

Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 20 games but were forced to settle for a draw after Manchester United twice pegged them back at Old Trafford.

Shkodran Mustafi's opener was swiftly cancelled out by Anthony Martial, before an even quicker turn around, when Jesse Lingard levelled less than a minute after substitute Alexandre Lacazette had put the Gunners ahead.

Jose Mourinho made a big statement by dropping Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku as part of six changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Southampton on the weekend.

With Granit Xhaka suspended, Matteo Guendouzi came into the Arsenal midfield, while Aaron Ramsey returned to the line-up to captain the side, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan dropping to the bench.

The home side started brightly but were limited to a couple of long range efforts before Sead Kolasniac began to find joy against Diogo Dalot down the United right.

De Gea fumbled Mustafi's header.
AFP/Getty Images

From a corner won down that flank, Arsenal took the lead. Lucas Torreira's corner was met by Mustafi, who headed down into the ground and as it bounced up towards goal, David De Gea could only parry over his own head and the line, despite Ander Herrera's effort to hook clear.

Martial converted from Herrera's cutback.
AFP/Getty Images

United were level within five minutes, when Martial won a cheap free-kick on the edge of the box. Marcos Rojo was the surprise taker, curling goalwards, and when Bernd Leno parried wide, Herrera - who looked marginally offside - was first to react, squaring for Martial to tuck home.

A fiery end to the half saw five bookings dished out in as many minutes, while Arsenal lost both Ramsey and Rob Holding to injury.

Lingard's goal saw United equalise a minute after Arsenal's second.
AFP/Getty Images

Dalot and Kolasinac both wasted decent opportunities to pick out a teammate when in acres of space in behind, before Lacazette and Lukaku were introduced by their respective managers as both sides went in search of a winner.

Lacazette thought he had it when Rojo's sliding challenge deflected back off him and rolled in to make it 2-1. However, directly from the kick-off United were level, as Lingard took advantage of more hesitant defending to fire home.

Arsenal missed two glorious chances to retake the lead, first Aubameyang slotting straight at De Gea and then Mkhitaryan flicking wide, both off Kolasinac cut backs.

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