EPL : Manchester United draw with Chelsea, Arsenal see off Bournemouth to go on top .

Man-Utd-vs-ChelseaManchester , December 29 : Manchester United delivered an improved performance  but couldn’t cure their scoring woes in a 0-0 English Premier League draw against Chelsea on Monday . In another match Arsenal saw off  Bournemouth at The Emirates to go on top of the league table .

Ozil set up centre-back Gabriel for the opening goal on 27 minutes, his first for the club, and scored the second after the break by sidefooting home Olivier Giroud’s flicked pass.There was also a significant milestone for Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, who set a new Premier League record of 170 clean sheets, with 162 of those coming in his time at Chelsea. Tottenham Hotspur rose to third after Son Heung-Min netted a late goal in a 2-1 victory at 10-man Watford.

United’s draw against Chelsea leave the Reds five points off  the Champions League positions.United manager Van Gaal raised the prospect of quitting last weekend and this stalemate – United’s sixth scoreless draw since October 25 – leaves his position uncertain, with the 20-time English champions now winless in eight games in all competitions.

But there’s no doubt United played for their manager, with Juan Mata and Anthony Martial striking shots against the goal frame in the first half and both Ander Herrera and Wayne Rooney missing close-range chances after the break. “When the players are fighting for me, I stay,” Van Gaal said, “because that is the most important thing and you have seen that today.”

One goal in their past four home matches, though, tells its own story for United, badly in need of a striker in the January transfer window – regardless of whether or not Van Gaal is still in charge.

“There is not any reason to resign for me,” said Van Gaal, who brought up that possibility after the 2-0 loss at Stoke on Saturday. “Maybe the media wants that, but I shall not do that.”

United stayed sixth, but fell further adrift of the top four, while Chelsea were only three points above the relegation zone in a woeful title defence and still haven’t won away since August.

Nemanja Matic side-footed high and wide when one-on-one after a counter-attack in the best chance for Chelsea, who arrived at Old Trafford without a recognised striker in the team or on the bench.

For once, Chelsea’s problems were just a sub-plot.

Van Gaal’s perilous position dominated the build-up to a match between two giants of the league who have fallen on hard times this season.

It was a case of the beleaguered hosts against the embattled champions, and van Gaal gave a defiant wave to United fans as he took his place in the dug-out.

He was also applauded down the tunnel after the final whistle by many fans in United’s Stretford End, a positive sign despite the frustrating result.

Van Gaal likely won’t have seen the odd United supporter wearing scarves emblazoned with “Jose Mourinho The Special One” and featuring the face of the Portuguese coach, who has been tipped as a potential replacement for van Gaal. If United keep playing like they did in the first half especially, van Gaal won’t be going anywhere just yet.