Olivier Giroud strikes late for Arsenal to deny Manchester United

Olivier Giroud scored a late, late header as Arsenal rescued a 1-1 draw from their trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Arsenal, unbeaten since the opening day defeat to Liverpool, missed out on the chance to go top of the Premier League table, but manager Arsene Wenger will view this as a point gained after seeing his side outplayed for most of the match.

His side may have been second-best and ball-chasing for long periods of the second half, but the Frenchman's substitutions proved crucial, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Giroud combining to snatch a late draw to cancel out Juan Mata's opener.

Arsenal seemed set to fall victim of the "November curse", a month they have traditionally struggled in, as Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick dominated possession in midfield and an exhausted Alexis Sanchez, far-from-fresh after playing and scoring twice for Chile in midweek, struggled against United's centre-back pairing of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo.

United manager Jose Mourinho remains unbeaten in the Premier League against Arsene Wenger, stretching the run to 12 matches, and the Portuguese may argue his side should have been awarded a penalty in the first half for a clumsy Nacho Monreal challenge on Antonio Valencia.

Why are United so much better when Michael Carrick starts? Michael Carrick has started six matches this season, and United have won five of them. The stats don't lie - in 2014-15, United picked up 2.44 points per league game Carrick started, as opposed to 1.41 when he did not. Last season, United managed 1.91 points per league game he started, and just 1.50 when he did not. Some people do not see what he brings to a team – he rarely scores or even makes goals, but he allows other United players to flourish and brings a calmness to the United back four by always being available for an out ball.

Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) Even the most optimistic of Manchester United supporters must have feared the worst after seeing the names of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo on Jose Mourinho's team-sheet. But the return of Valencia to the right-back berth may have calmed a few nerves among Red Devils' fans. The Ecuador international, making his first appearance since suffering a fractured arm during the 1-0 EFL Cup victory over Manchester City on 26 October, negated the threat of Aaron Ramsey and Nacho Monreal down the Arsenal left. and was a potent attacking force himself when United had the ball.

Manchester United: De Gea 7, Valencia 8, Jones 7, Rojo 7, Darmian 6, Carrick 7, Ander Herrera 7, Mata 7, Pogba 6, Martial 7, Rashford 7. Subs: Rooney 7, Blind 6, Schneiderlin 6.

Arsenal: Cech 7, Jenkinson 7, Mustafi 7, Koscielny 7, Monreal 7, Coquelin 6, Elneny 7, Ramsey 6, Ozil 7, Walcott 6, Sanchez 7. Subs: Giroud 7, Xhaka 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7.

7' – CHANCE! Sanchez heads wide from the edge of the six-yard box following a short corner involving Elneny and Ozil and a Walcott flick-on.

35' – PENALTY APPEAL! Monreal seems to pull down Valencia in the area, but Marriner waves play on, to the annoyance of Mourinho on the touchline.

36' – CHANCE! United win a free-kick following a Coquelin foul on Herrera. Mata then wins space at the near post that forces a sharp save from Cech.

50' – CHANCE! Mustafi blocks from Rashford at close range following a mishit effort from Pogba from Valencia's cross.

68' – GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal. Mata gives United the lead with a drilled finish from 15 yards following a brilliant clipped at pace cross from Herrera down the right.

80' – CHANCE! Rojo heads wide from close range from a Blind cross.

89' – GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal. Giroud outjumps Jones to heads home at the far post from an Oxlade-Chamberlain cross, after dropping the shoulder and beating Rashford. That's his fourth goal of the season for the Gunners.

United's draw against Arsenal is their third in a row at Old Trafford following draws against Stoke City and Burnley. The last time United drew three games in a row at Old Trafford was in 1992.

Arsenal have lost just one of their last 22 top-flight matches, and Juan Mata's goal was the first time the Gunners' have gone behind in a Premier League away match this season.