Match report – By the numbers – Player ratings – Video

A 1-1 draw at Old Trafford leaves us needing a point from our final 2 games to secure third place and automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League.

On a very basic level, a point from any game there is a reasonable outcome, and having to come back from a goal down makes it feel a well-earned one, but it was far from our best day at the office. The first half in particular was turgid fare, we never got going at all, too many players were off the pace or simply not at the level we’re accustomed to them being at, and although United had more of the ball, they weren’t especially threatening.

The goal came on the half hour mark when an Ashley Young cross from the right found Ander Herrera unmarked at the back post. The Spaniard side-footed home well, but I think you can ask questions about the defending, the fact he was allowed saunter into our box without being tracked, and for me I thought Ospina was beaten a bit too easily.

When we did get hold of the ball we wasted it all over the pitch. The amount of times we simply gave it away or allowed ourselves to be robbed of it would have been almost comical (if it wasn’t so frustrating), so the half-time whistle at least gave us some time to regroup.

It was a bit better in the second half, which is to say we went from being utterly shit to plain old shit, but we were certainly in the game more. There were still players find it tough going, the word at the break was that Alexis was contending with injury or illness and I think that was evidenced in his performance, while in midfield the normally controlled Santi Cazorla was finding it very hard to make an impact on the game.

In truth, I didn’t really see where a goal was going to come from. Olivier Giroud showed good strength to create a chance for himself in the box but hit it tamely at the keeper, and the Frenchman really should have had a penalty when Smalling tried to undress him right in front of the referee, but nothing was given.

Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott came on for Cazorla and Bellerin with Coquelin moving to right back and Ramsey into the centre of the midfield. Whether those changes alone were responsible for our best spell of the match, it’s hard to say. There is a natural momentum when you’re pressing for an equaliser, but with Ramsey back in the middle, and Wilshere’s driving energy bringing something different to the midfield, we certainly got on top of them.

There was a touch of good fortune about the equaliser but Ramsey’s pass for Walcott was excellent and when he attempted to cross for Giroud, the ball deflected off Tyler Blackett and spun into the far side of the net with substitute Victor Valdes completely wrong-footed. Credit to the England man for his contribution, but it was an own goal and not one that will boost Walcott’s scoring record.

There was even the chance to win it when Mesut Ozil teed up Giroud at the near post, but he clipped his shot wide from a position he’s normally very good from. I suspect a couple of weeks ago he’d have finished that with aplomb but his recent poor form and dip in confidence meant the chance went begging. Is that the kind of ruthlessness we miss up front at times? I’m on record as a fan of Giroud and I think he’s had a fine season, all things considered, but that was a big chance to take all three points.

Before the end there was a moment of danger at our end when van Persie blazed over from a good position, but all in all the 1-1 draw felt pretty fair and although we didn’t play very well, it was hugely important not to lose that game. Afterwards, the manager said:

The only regret I have is that we didn’t take the three points in the second half. We started the first half slowly, Manchester United were sharper at the beginning, and we were a bit stretched as well width and length-wise. The second half we were more compact and we took over. We showed a great response and got a deserved point.

I’m pretty sure the first half should be regret too. Look, it happens away from home that you find it hard to get into the game but when that does happen it’s important that everybody pulls their weight defensively. That wasn’t the case with the goal which you could see was quite preventable, so you give yourself an uphill task to get back into it.

It’s also difficult to become the attacking force you’d like to be when players like Alexis and Cazorla, usually so reliable and consistent, struggle the way they did yesterday. I love Cazorla a lot and I think he’s been outstanding for the most part, but it’s surely time now to move our best central midfielder, Aaron Ramsey, back into his more natural position.

Whether that means Cazorla moves out wide, or the manager finds another way to accommodate him, I don’t really know, but the last two performances suggest the effectiveness of using Ramsey on the right is dwindling. Given that we play again on Wednesday evening, ahead of the final day next Sunday, and that there were some tired legs out there yesterday, I think the manager will changes things around for the next game, and we can see how things work.

Overall though, despite the poor performance it was a decent point on paper. It all felt a bit end-of-season-underwhelming though, but it looks as if we’ve done enough to secure CL qualification without an extra game in August, which should make our lives a bit easier at the beginning of next season (although I have great faith in our ability to make our life as difficult as possible in ways we can’t even possibly imagine).

So it’s Sunderland next on Wednesday, and it would be nice to see us rediscover from spark in the next couple of games before the cup final. Fingers crossed.

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James and I will have an Arsecast Extra for you later this morning. If you have questions, talking points or anything else, fire them over on Twitter to @gunnerblog and @arseblog with the hashtag #arsecastextra and we’ll do our best to get to as many of them as possible.

Until then.