Res: United 0 Arsenal 0

United clinched the Northern Group A reserves' title with the point they required as Warren Joyce's side played out a goalless draw with Arsenal.

Darren Fletcher made his comeback from a virus while the Gunners included long-term injury victim Thomas Vermaelen in their side in front of the watching Sir Alex Ferguson.

It was a largely tepid affair but James Shea made an outstanding late save to deny substitute Will Keane a late winner. The Gunners dominated possession for the first half hour but failed to trouble Ben Amos, who was a virtual spectator. It took United 20 minutes to register an attempt as Oliver Norwood's raking drive cleared the bar by some distance after a Bebe cross was only partially cleared.

Some crunching tackles by the Brown brothers, Wes and Reece, seemed to spark the hosts into life and Shea was lucky to stay on the pitch after clattering into Gabriel Obertan when Daniel Boateng's misplaced header looked set to give the Frenchman a clear run for a tap-in. Referee Steve Martin awarded play on and Obertan almost ensured justice was done seconds later when beating Boateng on the left, only to shoot against Shea, who deflected the ball to safety.

For all Arsenal's pretty football, lone striker Jeremie Aliadiere's biggest contribution of the first half was to pick up a yellow card for a blatant dive in the box under Joe Dudgeon's fair challenge. However, United also lacked a cutting edge without a centre-forward on the pitch despite Obertan's impressive running in attack. The ex-Bordeaux forward set up Norwood for a shot that looped off the returning Vermaelen and into the arms of Shea before firing across the face of goal following another dash down the left flank.