How Andy Cole's fortunes have changed since these Premiership heavyweights last met.

Back in September Cole was merely a spectator as his former club Arsenal strolled to a 3-0 victory over Manchester United in the late summer sunshine.

Cole had been left out of the squad after he had refused to play in a reserve match and his future did not look promising.

But Cole battled his way back and at Old Trafford he scored what could prove to be the most important goal of United's Premiership campaign.

Arsenal were on course to record their fifth successive victory over the league leaders in the "biggest shoot-out", as Alex Ferguson had described it, after Nicolas Anelka had scored just after the interval.

With the game, and United's lead in the title race, slipping from their grasp Cole headed home to keep them on course for Premiership glory.

Before kick-off Yorke and manager Alex Ferguson had received their Carling awards for January in recognition of United's magnificent 100 per cent start to 1999.

But rather than unnerve the champions, who were without Dennis Bergkamp, Emmanuel Petit and Martin Keown, the presentations only seemed to inspire them further for this clash of the titans.

Ferguson had predicted Arsenal would sit back and defend, but they took the game to United from the off.

Ray Parlour forced a save from Peter Schmeichel before the quick-thinking Lee Dixon floated a 30-yard free-kick just over the bar after he had spotted Schmeichel off his line.

Marc Overmars, who netted the only goal when these sides met here 11 months ago, missed a terrific chance to repeat his heroics.

Patrick Vieira swung a ball over to the back post where Overmars was running in unmarked, but the Dutch international mishit his shot into the side netting and United breathed again.

The incessant rain made for difficult playing conditions and David Seaman was almost caught out by the slippery ball when he spilled a shot from Cole, but Vieira was on hand to complete the clearance.

The biggest Premiership match of the season was living up to its billing and it was the best league match witnessed at Old Trafford this season.

Roy Keane got in on the act and he made a great surging run into the box past Steve Bould only to be denied by a great left-handed save low down by Seaman.

The game exploded into life just before the half hour mark when referee Gary Willard awarded United a controversial penalty.

Willard ruled that Parlour had caught Ronny Johnsen in the right-hand corner of the penalty area and pointed to the spot.

Up stepped the Premiership's top scorer Dwight Yorke, but the normally reliable hitman shot wide to the disbelief of the United supporters.

Cole tried to make amends two minutes later only for Seaman to make another terrific save and block his shot with his legs, a la Pat Jennings.

That save and Yorke's penalty miss took on even greater significance three minutes after half-time when Anelka fired Arsenal ahead.

Nwankwo Kanu beat Jaap Stam superbly only to be tackled by Phil Neville and when the ball broke to Anelka on the edge of the six-yard box he fired home into the roof of the net.

Tempers were reaching breaking point and Keane and Vieira were booked after the midfielders clashed on the halfway line.

Arsenal visibly grew in confidence after the goal and began knocking the ball about in United's half while the home side tried to regroup. Then out of the blue United equalised on 60 minutes.

Phil Neville swung over a great cross from the left for Cole to head home his 19th goal of the season.

United had been preparing to bring on Paul Scholes and they made the change anyway, taking off the ineffectual Jesper Blomqvist.

Now the initiative was back with United and it was they who looked the likelier to score a second goal.

They unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty after David Beckham had gone down in the box. Bould then got a vital touch to deflect a Cole effort away for a corner before Seaman saved from the same striker.

United sensed a memorable victory and with 13 minutes to go they brought on the fit-again Ryan Giggs for Nicky Butt.

Yorke's miserable night was completed when he squandered a great chance to win the game six minutes from time when he shot from inside the six-yard box but Seaman tipped it to safety.

Even yet there was still time for United to snatch all three points, but Keane blazed wide from a chance and when the final whistle blew they had to settle for just the one point from this pulsating match.

Teams

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Johnsen, Stam, P. Neville, Beckham, Butt (Giggs 78), Keane, Blomqvist (Scholes 61), Yorke,Cole.

Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Solskjaer, Brown.

Booked: Yorke, Keane.

Goals: Cole 60.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Bould, Adams, Winterburn (Vivas 78), Parlour, Hughes, Vieira, Overmars (Diawara 87), Anelka,Kanu (Garde 61).

Subs Not Used: Manninger, Grimandi.

Booked: Vieira, Bould.

Goals: Anelka 47.

Att: 55,171

Ref: G Willard (Worthing).