Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman wore a satisfied smile after pulling off a string of saves to keep his team in with a chance of retaining their title.

"To go a goal in front was great. We could not hang on in the end, but a draw was a fair result," he said.

Seaman believed United's penalty award was a dubious one. "I have seen them given and I have them waved away," he said of Gary Willard's decision to award a spot-kick for Ray Parlour's foul on Ronny Johnsen.

"I wasn't too sure what Dwight was going to do - last time he chipped me from the penalty spot. I tried to stand up and in the end it forced him wide."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was a relieved man. "If we had lost it would have been very difficult to catch Manchester United and psychologically as well because it would have been eight points," he said.

"In the last 25 minutes we had a little bit of luck because on one or two occasions they had chances. They were closer to 2-1 than we were - that's why in the end it was not a bad result for us. It's a long way to go, and we all have difficult schedules."

United manager Alex Ferguson insisted his side had been the better. "It was always going to be a passionate affair but I think at the end of the day we were the better team," he said.

"Manchester United and Arsenal is always a tough one to call but I think on the evidence tonight we were the better team. We are in good form at the right time of year."