A draw is as good as a win...sometimes. An away day at Old Trafford

MAN. UNITED AWAY. For every football fan it is one of the highlights of the season. And even though we have rarely got a result there over the years, it still remains my favourite away trip.

Matches between the sides these days may lack the passion and importance of the days of Keane and Vieira but when the fixture list first came out last summer and this was down as the last away match, I felt we could be set for something very special.

In the end all that was a stake was the booby prize of avoiding the Champions League play-off. A win would guarantee us third place while even a defeat would not be a disaster with two potentially winnable home games to come.

For young Emerson this was to be his fourth trip to the Theatre of Dreams. As the previous three had finished in 0-2, 2-8 and 0-1 defeats, he was hoping it would be a case of fourth time lucky.

'Don't worry, Son,' I said. 'I have only seen win here three times in about 35 years!'

When visiting Old Trafford we always park in the Lowry Outlet Centre at Salford Quays, opposite Media City. Apart from being just a 10 minute walk from the ground, if you spend a fiver in the shopping centre you get four hours free parking. Much better than the £10 some of the car parks charge. So after a Burger King lunch, we headed for the ground.

Emerson soaking up the atmosphere at Old Trafford

Having seen us go off the boil since the FA Cup semi final victory over Reading; drawing two blanks in the three games since, Emerson and I were not confident of a victory. I felt it had 0-0 written all over it but Emerson, always the optimist, predicted there would be goals.

'2-1 to us,' he said. 'Just like in the FA Cup.'

Unfortunately we had been unable to attend that memorable FA Cup success due to the BBC switching it to a Monday night. Handy for them with their studio literally over the road but not so good for an 11-year old with school the next day.

Whatever you think about Manchester United as a club, and I personally detest everything about them, you have to say that watching football at Old Trafford is an absolute privilege. It is like a theatre or a cathedral and is one of the few classic stadiums left in world football.

Even though they have packed the seats in the away end so closely together that if everyone actually sat down you would literally be sitting on your neighbours lap, it has an air of grandeur about the place. Steeped in history, you can feel how special it is from the minute the stadium comes into view.

It does take you back to the old days of Highbury. That was also a classic old stadium where the history of the club just poured from every corner. And as much as love the comfort of the Emirates, it lacks the mystique of the old place and the club is all the poorer for it.

Many football fans criticise the atmosphere at Old Trafford but I have always found it to be electric, even for a game lacking in the dramas of the past.

As is usually the case here, we were poor in the first half and failed to even muster a shot on goal. Phil Jones' headed tackle on Oliver Giroud summed up our lacklustre attacking display. Meanwhile poor Hector Bellerin was being given the run around by Ashley Young, no less; surely the nadir in any footballers career.

When the goal finally arrived it was no surprise that it came from our right hand-side. Young skipped past the Spanish full back again and Ander Herrera was left unmarked to volley past David Ospina. Having been fairly quite until then, belying my earlier claims about the atmosphere, the United fans suddenly came to life.

To be fair I was relieved to be only 1-0 down at the break and as Emerson and I went for a half time cuppa, we both felt we would play better in the second half.

'We only ever play well in one half,' said Emerson, with far more perception than many of our fans seem to possess.

Father and son at the match

It did not appear as though as he would right in the early stages however as we were once again offering very little but we suddenly flicked the switch. Giroud nodded the ball on for Alexis Sanchez but the Chilean, who had been anonymous until then, volleyed into the upper tier.

That seemed to give us some belief and led to an exciting second half. Around the hour mark things appeared to be going our way as Arsene Wenger, usually reluctant to make changes so early, threw on Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott. Not for Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil as seemed likely, but for Bellerin and Santi Cazorla.

At the same time United goalkeeper David De Gea, who's incredible performances this season have kept Louis van Gaal in his job, had to go off, being replaced by Victor Valdes for his Premier League debut.

'We'll definitely score now,' was Emerson's confident response.

Walcott has never really convinced many Arsenal fans but Emerson and I have always loved him. If nothing else, his pace gets you up off your seat and we were sure he would make an impact on what was his 299^th appearance for the club.

His first action however was to be pushed off the ball by United substitute Tyler Blackett. This led to a guy behind me immediately getting on his back.

'Give him a chance, mate,' I said. 'He has hardly played for a year. Let him get into the game.'

Wilshere was having no such trouble, and with Ramsey now moved centrally, we started to gain control of the midfield.

Chances came and went, mainly through Giroud's lack of sharpness in front of goal. He is another player who always seems to get stick. Many feel he is not the sort of striker that will win you titles and while it is fair to say he has not been at his best in recent weeks, even here his hold up play was exemplary.

What he needs is someone with a bit of pace alongside him. A Walcott or a Sanchez. The Chilean has been employed in a wide-left position in recent months and has become far too predictable; constantly cutting inside onto his right foot.

It is no surprise that many of Sanchez' goals this season came before Christmas when he was playing through the middle in Giroud's absence. Playing the two as a pair may just bring out the best in both of them. But Wenger knows best and apart from in recent weeks, we have not been struggling in the goals department.

There is no better feeling than scoring a late equaliser, especially if it is at your end and against one of your bitter rivals. So even though it was not for the biggest prizes on offer, when Walcott's deflected cross went in off Blackett to bring us level, the away end went ballistic!!

Emerson disappeared under a sea of happy fans while I found myself hugging Baso, the fan who always comes to games dressed in a half-and-half home and away kit! Moments like this are the reason why we travel to away games. Sheer unbridled joy!

And in the end we could even have won it. Seconds after the goal, Giroud fired into the side netting following a flowing move involving Wilshere, Ramsey and Ozil. Some in the away end thought it was in which led to the typical mocking from the United fans but I think they were just relived it hadn't gone in.

Speaking of relief, there was just as much in the away end in stoppage time when Robin van Persie, who was booed mercifully by the travelling Gooners from the moment he came on, fired over the top from a good position.

I cannot for the life of me understand why the Arsenal fans persist on singing that disgusting song about him. Yes, he left us for one of our rivals but you know what, good luck to him. He got himself a title medal and after eight years loyal service to us we should not begrudge him that.

Personally I still admire the man and will never forget the great things he produced in an Arsenal shirt. During his final season with us he was one of the best players in the world and it is still a pleasure to watch him play. Even more so when he misses chances like this against us. So cheers, Robin.

So a draw, third place virtually in the bag and Emerson finally seeing his losing streak here brought to an end. Overall it was one of more enjoyable trips here in the recent years. A bit better than the 8-2 at least, and a draw when you have been behind feels almost as good as a win. Almost.

Of course the negative, Wenger out morons will be out in force moaning that we will now finish on less points than last season, even though we will have conceded far less goals, got better results against the top sides and finished one place higher. Not to mention a second consecutive FA Cup final on the horizon.

This squad is on the verge of great things. With the addition of a defensive midfielder, a fox-in-the-box striker and another central defender, we will be much closer next season. Who knows, we may even win the thing.

But for now we can look back on another decent if not outstanding season and look forward to Wembley in two weeks time. After a nine year wait for some glory these are the good times and we should all be enjoying them. Judging by Emerson's sing-along in the car all the way home, he certainly is. 

Now repeat after me, 'Alexis Sanchez baby, Alexis Sanchez oohhhh...'