MAN UNITED 2, ARSENAL 1
MAROUANE Fellaini’s injury-time winner guaranteed Champions League football for Manchester United, but ended Arsenal’s slender hopes of a top-four finish.
It was also Arsene Wenger’s last visit to Old Trafford as Gunners’ manager and his 60th game against the Reds was one of the most lukewarm.
Long gone are the days of tunnel dust ups and on-the-field brawls as this game lacked the passion and intensity of previous encounters.
United did just enough to beat a depleted Arsenal – seven of their big hitters weren’t risked with the Europa League game at Atletico Madrid four days away.
Goals from Paul Pogba and Fellaini ensured United cannot be caught for a top-four place as they remain second in the table.
And Wenger’s miserable record at Old Trafford continued as this was his 11th league visit without a win.
Wenger has also come out second best to Jose Mourinho in head-to-head clashes as he has managed only two wins in 19 attempts.
United’s manager was happy with his side’s display for the last 20 minutes, describing the first 70 as “slow thinking and lacking intensity”.
Once Arsenal equalised, Mourinho said: “After that the players, myself and the fans reacted.
“In the end we got the goal we deserved because of the last 20 minutes.”
If United finish runner-up, it will be the first time in five years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired that they have been so high.
Mourinho described that as progress, but not enough be to be champions and win the Champions League.
The Reds’ manager added he is hopeful the out-of-contract Fellaini will remain at Old Trafford.
Wenger was happy with his young players, saying: “We had a very young side, but it was a positive performance.
“The players are distraught as they gave me everything only to lose in the last minute.
“It was a negative result, but a positive performance, but that is football.”
Wenger appreciated the presentation before kick off joking it was the first time he had been awarded with a trophy before a game describing the gesture by the Reds as “classy”.
And of the warm reception he received from United fans, he joked: “It shows that once you are no longer a danger, people love you.”
Victor Lindelof replaced Phil Jones, the one change from the FA Cup semi-final win against Tottenham.
Wenger made a raft of changes for his final game at Old Trafford as his eyes were clearly on their Europa League semi final return at Atletico Madrid. There was no Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsay and Jack Wilshere while Petr Cech, Nacho Monreal and Danny Welbeck were on the bench.
Greek U21 international Konstantinos Mavropanos became the 200th player to be handed his Premier League debut by Wenger who also gave starts to youngsters Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Wenger was given warm applause by the United fans on his way to the technical area for the final time as Arsenal manager, a contrast to the abuse he had previously been subjected to.
And Sir Alex Ferguson made a presentation to Wenger pre-match which was followed by a warm embrace with Mourinho as well as previous animosities were forgotten. This was Wenger’s 60th match against United as Gunners’ manager.
After an uneventful opening, United made a 16th minute breakthrough with their first clear-cut chance following a move started and finished by Pogba.
He made a powerful burst before releasing Romelu Lukaku whose far-post cross was met by Alexis Sanchez whose close-range header was deflected by Hector Bellerin on to the post only to rebound to Pogba who fired into the rood of the net for his sixth goal of the season.
It prompted a chorus from United fans pleading for Wenger to stay while Gunners’ fans retorted they had previously won the league at Old Trafford as the light-hearted banter continued.
Former United player Henrikh Mkhitaryan came close to equalising when his shot rolled agonisingly wide.
Ashley Young came close to making it 2-0 five minutes before the break when his angled cross from the left struck the near upright with keeper David Ospina beaten.
United made an early change in the second half when Lukaku picked up a knock and was replaced by Marcus Rashford.
Arsenal equalised in the 51st minute when Mkhitaryan marked his return to Old Trafford with goal.
United lost possession in midfield after a mix-up between Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic and the ball was played to Mkhitaryan who broke and found the net with a low shot that went through the legs of Lindelof as keeper David De Gea didn’t move as he was evidently unsighted.
Mkhitaryan, who had an unsuccessful stint with the Reds, didn’t celebrate out of respect for his former club.
United made their final two changes mid-half as Jesse Lingard and Herrera were replaced by Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini.
And the Reds thought they had snatched victory in the 89th minute only for Rashford’s effort to be ruled out by the assistant referee’s flag.
Fellaini headed Martial’s cross against the upright and Rashford bundled in the rebound.
But the big Belgium was not be be denied in the first of four minutes of added time when he scored the winning goal.
Young whipped in a cross from the left and Fellaini’s far-post header looped over Ospina, though by that time many of United’s fans had long departed Old Trafford.