We've had some absorbing contests between these two giants of the English game. This latest encounter pitted an Arsenal side licking their wounds after a weekend humiliation at the hands of rampant Liverpool against current league champions Manchester United, fast fading from recognition and into mid-table obscurity after a nightmare season thus far.

Neither manager was particularly happy at the end. This was a scrappy, forgettable affair from which both teams' players emerged with little credit. It ended with stalemate, a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium leaving both Arsene Wenger and David Moyes reflecting on missed opportunities.

Arsenal should have done better than they did. Critics will point to their shallow squad. By the end of February, we will know one way or the other what they are capable of.

"I felt we were nervous," said Wenger. "It is not worrying because we care about what we do and when you concede five goals like we did on Saturday. We are only human beings and that is always what you get after a game like that."

For all their woes, Manchester United still have something to fight for, but following this draw, one must consider that they could struggle to qualify for Europe at this rate.

Moyes defended his players, especially when their desire was questioned.

"They are all winners," said the under-fire Scottish manager. "When you have won, you want to win again."

He added: "If there's one club in history who've been great at winning games in second half of season it's Manchester United."

A stony-faced Sir Alex Ferguson watched on from the executive seats as players that he led to the title last May continue to struggle in the face of adversity.

It was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock, including moments from the end, when former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie saw a headed effort pushed onto the crossbar. The draw, however, was a fair result.

Arsenal's fluid midfield shape enabled their players to keep the ball for large periods of the first half.

However, playing without any recognised wide men meant that their opponents were able to close down the ball easily. It was all fairly dismal from Arsenal as they failed to register any significant goal-scoring opportunities.

The Gunners lacked pace and dynamism all match. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on as a substitute midway through the second half to little effect.

It would have been a very different match had Manchester United's van Persie taken a great chance early on.

With less than a minute of the match gone, Arsenal's Mikael Arteta inexplicably gave the ball away on the edge of the penalty area to van Persie. The Dutchman raced through on Wojciech Szczesny's goal, but slipped as he fired his shot from just within the penalty area. The Arsenal goalkeeper made a relatively routine save.

Arsenal's response was slow in coming. By the interval, French striker Olivier Giroud had come close with a few headed efforts, but it was all desperately poor from the home side.

On 63 minutes, Laurent Koscielny saw a good chance cleared off the goal-line from Antonia Valencia. It was the closest that Arsenal got.

Wayne Rooney, anonymous for much of the game, combined well with van Persie on 79 minutes but the header from the Manchester United striker was well saved by Szczesny.

After the weekend defeat to Liverpool, there is no respite for Wenger's men as his side's horrendous fixture list continues. They face Brendan Rodgers' side again this Sunday in the FA Cup before welcoming German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League next week.