Arsenal 1 - 1 ManUre

I’m too exhausted to do a report right now (worked last night, stayed up to watch the match), so I’ll rely on the mothership’s version of events to tide you over.

From Arsenal.com

1 - 1

By Richard Clarke

Louis Saha struck with five minutes left to deny Arsenal victory against Manchester United at Highbury on Sunday.

The Frenchman slotted home at the far post just when Arsenal fans were starting to believe that Thierry Henry’s spectacular 30-yard drive soon after half time would be enough to seal all three points.

Even after Saha’s late goal the drama was not over. Lauren popped up alone in the box a minute into injury time but, with acres of space, allowed Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll to save.

This result sees Arsenal’s lead over second-place Chelsea cut to seven points with eight games left. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are still third and still 12 points adrift of the leaders.

But avoiding defeat means Arsenal are now 30 games unbeaten since the start of the season and that breaks the record held jointly by Leeds and Liverpool.

It also equalled Burnley’s 83-year-old record for the longest unbeaten streak within a season. That was recorded in the 1920/21 season when the Turf Moor club went on to lift the title.

And despite the disappointment of that late leveller, Arsenal are still well on course to emulate that feat.

There were two changes to the Arsenal side that had drawn 1-1 at Chelsea on Wednesday night. Gael Clichy replaced Ashley Cole (knee) and Reyes started up front so Dennis Bergkamp dropped to the bench.

The good news was Patrick Vieira (knee), Robert Pires (Achilles) and Sol Campbell (groin) had passed fitness tests on niggles either picked up or aggravated at Stamford Bridge. They all retained their places in the starting line-up.

The days when Arsenal and Manchester United can play a low-key affair are long gone. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, the dominant force in English football for more than a decade, came to Highbury well adrift of Ars�ne Wenger’s leaders. One sensed they needed nothing less than victory to have any hope of pulling back that lead.

And whatever happened today, there would be another locking of horns next Saturday for the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.

The start was the normal one seen in these games - fast, frantic and pressurised with no space for flowing football.

It took eight minutes for the game to settle enough for a chance to be created. Henry clipped a clever through ball for Ljungberg to conjure a yard of space for himself in the area. The Swede got his shot away but Wes Brown slid in with a wonderful block to smother the danger. A minute later Roy Carroll had to deny Ljungberg’s shot high at the near post after the midfielder had scampered through on the right.

The frenzy was ebbing away and the football was starting to find some fluency.

In the 13th minute, Giggs decided not to float his corner into the crowd area but spotted Eric Djemba-Djemba on the edge of the area. The Cameroon midfielder flicked the ball over the head of Vieira and then unleashed a powerful low shot that forced Jens Lehmann into a sharp save just inside his right-hand post.

Arsenal replied immediately when Reyes raced through and powered a low shot goalward only for Carroll to save with his legs. Then, midway through the half, Henry ran onto a loose ball to a rising rocket of a shot that flew narrowly over the angle of post of bar.

Five minutes before the break, Henry raced clear on the right. He burst into the area and cut inside his marker and keeper Carroll. The Arsenal striker went to ground as the home crowd screamed for a penalty. Referee Graham Poll waved play on.

Within five minutes of the restart, Henry put Arsenal ahead - and this time it was all his own work. Some 30 yards out, he nudged a high pass to Reyes who nodded it back into his path. The Frenchman looked up and spanked, that is the only word for it, a viciously swerving shot that bemused Carroll and arrowed high into the net.

It was his 31st in total this season, his 22nd in the Premiership and his 104th in the League overall. The last figure was significant because that overtook the tally struck by Ian Wright, the club’s record-scorer.

Within a couple of minutes, the visitors might have been level when Campbell tangled with Giggs as the Welshman burst into the area near the byline. Again no penalty was given.

Soon afterwards Reyes, who was having arguably his best game in an Arsenal shirt, chased a lost cause, won the ball and poked it ball wide of the upright.

But, now they were trailing, Ferguson knew he had to go for it. That is why he replaced Djemba-Djemba with Saha just before the hour. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer followed not long afterwards.

In the 63rd minute, Lauren and Pires combined for Ljungberg to clip a tantalising cross to the far post. But the sliding Edu arrive just too late to convert. With 20 minutes left, Reyes nearly profited from a kind rebound to poke another goal.

The Spanish striker was replaced by defensively-minded midfielder Gilberto with 13 minutes left as Wenger looked to close off the game.

Ljungberg might have killed it with 10 minutes left but, after galloping clear on to Pires through ball, he lost his footing and prodded a meek shot into the arms of Carroll.

But Manchester United were pressing and Lehmann had to rush out to deny Giggs near the byline then Brown nodded over.

Still Arsenal seemed to coasting home until, just after Bergkamp had replaced Pires, they allowed substitute Saha to steal in and slot home at the far post.

Henry nearly restored Arsenal’s lead immediately. He twisted in the area and then brought the best of Carroll as his shot looked like it might sneak in at the near post.

A minute injury time, the Frenchman set up an even better chance for Lauren, who had appeared in the area. The right back dithered and then saw his shot by the legs of Carroll.

So late disappointment and the lead is now down to seven points but , with eight games to go, Arsenal are still in the driving seat in the Premiership.