Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal
It was always going to be about Arsene Wenger.
The Frenchman’s final visit to Old Trafford, the home of his bitterest of rivals during his near 22 years in England, was always going to be the sports betting story.
After all, football games between these clubs have literally offered everything during the Premier League era, particularly with Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm.
However, the betting odds on this clash adding yet another chapter to the epic tale were slim.
That is because the title race has long been over for Man Utd, while this fixture is sandwiched between Europa League semi-finals for Arsenal.
And so it proved on an afternoon in which goodwill emanated amidst a relaxed atmosphere.
Before kick-off, Wenger was greeted warmly by home fans and by Jose Mourinho who then introduced him to his ultimate old foe, reunited with Sir Alex Ferguson who presented him with a farewell gift.
A classy touch from a classy club.
Once the action began, the goodwill continued as home fans applauded Wenger who had made clear his priorities by naming the youngest Arsenal starting 11 in a Premier League match since August 2011.
That occasion was also a visit to Old Trafford and Wenger won’t need reminding of what happened then.
Yet there was never going to be a repeat of that 8-2 rout.
It only took the hosts 17 minutes to open the scoring mind when Paul Pogba tapped the ball home after Alexis Sanchez’s goal-bound header had been diverted onto the post by Hector Bellerin.
The goodwill didn’t stretch to Sanchez, booed by the fans who sang his name before his January move to Old Trafford.
There was a warm reception though for former United players Danny Welbeck, who started on the bench here, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan whose classy touches were often at the heart of Arsenal’s best moments in a first half in which Pierre Emerick -Aubameyang had a chance to level.
The loss of the limping Romelu Lukaku four minutes into the second half was a blow for the home side who promptly introduced Marcus Rashford, the youngster who burst onto the Premier League scene with a debut double against the Gunners just over two years ago.
He had barely entered the fray when Mkhitaryan levelled with a fine finish against his former club with the Armenian international also showing class by refusing to celebrate against his ex-teammates.
The goal was deserved for the much-changed visitors and the game remained end-to-end.
Such was the inexperienced line-up they were facing, United would have been rightly criticised had they not won. However, moments after substitute Marouane Fellaini hit the crossbar with a header, the Belgian made amends and headed home a 91st-minute winner from a fine Ashley Young cross.
Old Trafford erupted as United secured a return to the Champions League next season.
A United winner in ‘Fergie time’ – the irony will not have been lost on Wenger on a day he said farewell to his arch rival and received the warm reception his legacy truly deserves.
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