Arsenal plays out 0-0 draw with Man U in Premier League

Arsenal has missed a strong chance to lead the Premier League after they played out a goalless draw with defending champions Manchester United at home in the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

This was a poor game between two sides that seemed intent on avoiding defeat as their first priority - and a shadow of previous games between these two clubs in recent years.

According to the BBC, Arsenal failed to recover from their 5-1 mauling at Liverpool, while United was desperate to bounce back from the 2-2 draw at home to bottom club Fulham, although the result did not serve either the purposes of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger or his United counterpart David Moyes other than just avoiding defeat.

The report mentioned that striker Robin van Persie came closest with a goal against his former side but his early effort was saved by Wojciech Szczesny, who also turned the Dutchman's late header onto the bar.

Olivier Giroud missed Arsenal's best opportunity although Santi Cazorla brought two fine late saves out of United keeper David De Gea and Laurent Koscielny's header was cleared off the line by Antonio Valencia, the report added.