David Raya's heroics earned Arsenal a point at Old Trafford

Arsenal's title hopes fade after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. Declan Rice's strike salvaged a point, but is the Premier League race officially over ?

David Raya saves on the line to keep Arsenal level in their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday. (Photo credit: GOAL)

Despite Mikel Arteta's defiance, Arsenal's title hopes are well and truly over after the Gunners failed to beat Manchester United on Sunday.

Arsenal dominated the first half but couldn't break down a Manchester United defence that had Victor Lindelof playing from the start for the first time in almost a year and a midfield of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Is this the ultimate funeral of Arsenal's title dreams?

As it always happens when you don't take your chances, United delivered a sucker punch at the tail end of the first half; Leandro Trossard hacked down Joshua Zirkzee at the edge of the Arsenal box, and Bruno Fernandes struck a beauty from the dead ball situation, leaving Arsenal chasing the game.

For all of Arsenal's first-half dominance, United came into the second half like a totally different team; Leny Yoro made way for Heaven, a former Arsenal youth player who impressed greatly on the day, and despite Arsenal creating lots of chances to level matters, United looked the likelier to score.

David Raya made a couple of saves before Declan Rice levelled matters with a quarter of the game to go. A neat run from the right by Jurien Timber found Rice on the edge of the United box, and the England midfielder struck it once, and the ball went in off the woodwork.

And when asked whether the race was now over, Arteta said, "I don't want to say that. Today the frustration is that we haven't won the game. We know the urgency, and we are obligated to win every single match if you want to have any chance of doing that. I don't think it is the right moment to talk about that."

United thought they'd won it at the death when Bruno Fernandes found himself with the ball in the Arsenal box and the net gaping, only for David Raya to keep the ball out and then clear the rebound off the line. That was moments after Declan Rice denied Rasmus Hojlund with the block of the season.

Liverpool has now opened a 15-point gap on the Gunners after the Kops beat Southampton 3-1 at Anfield on Saturday.