ARSENAL drew 0-0 with Manchester United at Ashburton Grove on Saturday to ensure their unbeaten league run continued.

The goalless stalemate against the Red Devils saw Mikel Arteta’s side make it seven top-flight games undefeated on a cold north London evening.

In a match full of attacking endeavour, if not end product, the Gunners’ best chance came when Alex Lacazette’s second half free-kick thudded off the bar with David de Gea beaten. 

The home side were weakened without the youthful energy of Bukayo Saka, who missed the game as a precaution due to a sore hip, while Kieran Tierney was also absent. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wasn’t in the squad for “personal reasons.”

Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe started for the home side after they were substituted during the victory at Southampton, while new loan signing Martin Odegaard made a late debut from the bench. 

The Red Devils made five changes from their shock defeat at home to Sheffield United, as the match eased into life after a shapeless opening.

Fred’s left-footed curler forced Bernd Leno into an excellent full-length fingertip save to his left on 20 minutes.

Arsenal countered with a sweeping move prompted by Smith Rowe’s subtle drop of the shoulder, before he fed Nicolas Pepe, whose dancing feet worked space against Luke Shaw, prior to curling the ball narrowly wide. 

With the tempo rising, Shaw crossed deep for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to head wide. 

Bruno Fernandes’ curler went the wrong side of the post, before Marcus Rashford found himself in space — but the ball stuck in his feet, and the chance was lost.

After the interval Edinson Cavani fired wide from close range, prompting United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to reflect afterwards: “We need to take our chances.” 

Yet, the home side had opportunities, none more so than when Lacazette was hauled to the ground by Harry Maguire on 64 minutes. The tireless Frenchman got up to take the free-kick that lifted up and over the wall before hitting the woodwork. 

Shortly afterwards a rasping Smith Rowe shot forced a good save low down from De Gea, and, as the clock ticked down, Pepe curled another just past United’s far post, following tigerish work from Hector Bellerin.

There was time for Cavani to show invention when hooking wide, but the score remained goalless.

In stretching their undefeated streak against United to six league clashes, the point saw the Gunners move two points behind Tottenham, while the visitors remained in second, three points behind their city rivals.

The point also ensured a new United club record — 18 away league games without defeat, including 14 victories. An impressive feat considering their 1999 treble-winning vintage managed 17. 

With both sides set to play again in 72 hours, no wonder Solskjaer remarked afterwards: “It’s a relentless season.”

Arsenal make the trip to out-of-sorts Wolves on Tuesday with positivity, aiming to make it eight league games unbeaten.

Arteta was the happier of the two bosses afterwards, saying: “A draw’s a fair result. There’s work to do, but I like the direction we’re going in.”