LONDON, Jan 4: In a goalless stalemate at Highbury, Arsenal and Manchester United demonstrated just why Chelsea have so dominated the Premiership.

Both seemed agitated, worryingly lacking in cutting edge, devoid of the class or focused urgency that might have made them contenders.

Cristiano Ronaldo might have been expected to expose the makeshift left-back, but Cygan looked confident and assured in dealing with the Portuguese winger, although his propensity for gaffes almost cost Arsenal shortly before half-time, Sol Campbell having to react sharply to snuff out the danger from a badly misplaced pass.

Ronaldo, in truth, had an evening to forget, frequently dribbling down blind alleys, and being subjected to a tirade from Wayne Rooney after he neglected a simple through-ball to the 20-year-old for a wild slash at goal from 25 yards.

Then, a minute before half-time, when a clear chance finally fell United’s way, he sidefooted the rebound over after Jens Lehmann had made an excellent one-handed save to keep out Ruud van Nistelrooy’s snap-shot.

That too was the result of an Arsenal error, Alexander Hleb having conceded possession on halfway, and it was another mistake that almost let van Nistelrooy in again on the hour as Kolo Toure missed Gary Neville’s long pass.

Seconds later only the bravery of Lehmann denied the Dutchman as he slid onto Ronaldo’s cross.

United’s best chance though came in the final minute, as Toure was called upon to hack a Wes Brown header off the line.

Arsenal had much the better of possession before the break,.

Cesc Fabregas stabbed a half-chance just wide after 10 minutes, and Robert Pires had a shot shoveled away by Edwin van der Sar, but the closest they came before the interval was a Thierry Henry free-kick that drifted a fraction the wrong side of the post.

After half-time they were rather less composed, and chances became even rarer, although Pires did force van der Sar into a low save when he met Henry’s through-ball.—AFP