Arsenal strengthened their hopes of securing an automatic Champions League qualification berth by earning a 1-1 draw away at Manchester United this afternoon.

Theo Walcott's strike in the final 10 minutes, which took a heavy deflection off substitute Tyler Blackett on its way through, helped cancel out Ander Herrera's first-half opener at Old Trafford.

A flat opening 45 minutes was followed up by a far more entertaining second period of play, with both sides creating chances but ultimately not doing enough to win the contest, to ensure that the Gunners remain two points ahead of their rivals in third place.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look back at how the contest unfolded.

Match statistics

MANCHESTER UNITED
Shots: 12
On target: 4
Possession: 55%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 8

ARSENAL
Shots: 5
On target: 3
Possession: 45%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 14

Was the result fair?

Louis Van Gaal would have been targeting three points from today's contest in order to keep his side's top-three hopes alive, although in the end United just did not do enough to warrant a victory over their rivals. The way they conceded eight minutes from time may have been tough to take, with the ball deflecting over substitute Victor Valdes and into the back of the net, but Arsenal had been building pressure for some time prior to that.

A somewhat tame opening 45 minutes, which elapsed without the Gunners firing away a single shot - the first time that has happened since November 2004 - was just about edged by United who capitalised on their one big chance through Herrera. The Red Devils had the odd glimpse of goal throughout the second half, but it was Arsenal who did more with possession in the final third, as witnessed by Walcott's deflected leveller.

Manchester United's performance

This defining fixture in English football tends to have an awful lot riding on it, particularly at this late stage of the season, although today was merely about battling for third place in the Premier League. Van Gaal stressed the importance of ending the season on a high beforehand, but there was little flow or direction to his side's game for large parts.

Ashley Young was once more one of the Red Devils' standout performers down the left, laying on the assist for Herrera's sweetly-struck volley, while the height of Marouane Fellaini was also used to good effect throughout. Losing their true star player this season in David de Gea to injury proved to be a real blow in the closing stages, however, with debutant Valdes going to ground too early and failing to keep out what could prove to be a vital goal in deciding who finishes in that final Champions League automatic qualification spot.

Arsenal's performance

A failure to test the hosts' defence whatsoever in the first half would have left Arsene Wenger hugely frustrated, while the goal they conceded was certainly avoidable, with Herrera being given too much space unmarked at the back post. That is the first time Arsenal have conceded a goal in the first half of a league game since losing to Southampton on New Year's Day, but they showed real character to click into gear and claim a valuable point after the restart.

Their winless run in league competition at the Theatre of Dreams, which stretches back to 2006, could well have been ended had Olivier Giroud tucked away a half-chance just moments after Blackett's own goal, yet it was not to be in the end. Wenger seemed perfectly happy with a point, too, as he introduced the defensive-minded Mathieu Flamini in place of Alexis Sanchez late on.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Aaron Ramsey: Arsenal boast an array of world-class attacking talent, yet it is the £5m Welshman who continues to impress. He dictated the flow of the game, despite being a big injury doubt in the build-up, and he very nearly added another goal to his tally for the season when smartly lifting the ball over the onrushing De Gea, only for Marcos Rojo to get back to deny the midfielder a simple tap-in.

Biggest gaffe

The first shot on United's goal without De Gea between the sticks all season ended with the opposition scoring. Valdes has had to frustratingly watch on from the bench since joining last year, but when given his big chance he failed to truly grab it by both hands.

It is harsh to attribute the blame entirely on the former Barcelona man for his part in the Arsenal leveller, although he appeared to go to ground a little early and will be hugely disappointed to have conceded in the manner he did so soon after coming on.

Referee performance

A quiet afternoon for man in the middle Mike Dean, with the experienced official not being forced to show any player a yellow card until the fifth minute of added time at the end of the game. It was certainly not a dirty contest in a fixture which so often contains many flashpoints, although Fellaini did catch Per Mertesacker with a flailing arm early on.

What next?

Manchester United: The Red Devils see out their season away at Hull City, hoping for an Arsenal slip-up elsewhere to keep their top-three ambitions alive.

Arsenal: The FA Cup finalists play their game in hand on Wednesday night when they take on Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium, before hosting West Bromwich Albion in their final league fixture of the season.