After their 8-2 humiliation at Old Traffiord earlier this season, Arsenal were keen for retribution at the Emirates. The Gunners had undergone a transformation following a poor start to the season, but successive league defeats since the New Year have faded those aspriations. Now they are more concerned with securing fourth place; United, meanwhile, remain very much on the shoulders of the league leaders Manchester City, who beat Tottenham 3-2 earlier on SundayPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianThe major team news is that Thierry Henry is unfit to play for Arsenal. However, Paul Scholes will be taking to the field for UnitedPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianThe first half is a tame affair, with chances scant for both sides. Here, Danny Welbeck has a shot blocked by Laurent KoscielnyPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianJohan Djourou is struggling to play in the unorthodox position of right-back ... and Nani seems well aware of his fragilityPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianBut it isn't until the final seconds of the first half that a goal is scored - Antonio Valencia rising above Thomas Vermaelen to head home Ryan Giggs' crossPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianThe second half provides more entertainment and incident. Here, Chris Smalling wins a header for United in a cluttered penalty boxPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianRobin van Persie skips through tackles from Michael Carrick and Giggs as Arsenal look increasingly threateningPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianBut the Dutchman wastes a glorious opportunity as he side-foots wide from close range after nimbly collecting Thomas Rosicky's angled passPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianFortunately for Arsenal, it isn't long before Van Persie finds the net. His goal - a low shot across the face of the keeper - was a product of a swift counter-attack started by Koscielny and furthered by the excellent youngster Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianBut no sooner has Oxlade-Chamberlain created the equaliser than Arsène Wenger decides to bring him off. The decision prompts a chorus of booing from the home fans - a sound Wenger has seldom endured in his tenure at Arsenal. This was Oxlade-Chamberlain's first start for the club, but the crowd saw no logic in removing the team's most creative asset on account of his youthPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianVan Persie is not a happy man and is seen mouthing the word 'no' as the substitution goes aheadPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianAnd it proves to be a fateful decision by Wenger as Andrey Arshavin - Oxlade-Chamberlain's replacement - fails to halt Valencia's run down the left flank which results in an 81st minute goal for WelbeckPhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianWenger is livid, but he's only really got himself to blamePhotograph: Tom Jenkins for The GuardianArsenal are unable to rescue a draw and suffer their third successive league defeat. United, meanwhile, have matched City's victory earlier in the day and once again find themselves just three points adrift of the league leaders. Final score: 1-2Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
