London, January 4:

Arsenal and Manchester United ground out a tedious 0-0 draw on Tuesday for a result that delighted runaway English league leader Chelsea.

Needing a victory to cut Chelsea’s lead to 11 points, United was frustrated by a Gunners side that seemed intent on avoiding defeat, foiled in its last attempt when Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue kicked a Wes Brown header off the line in the final minute.

The result left United in second place with 45 points from 21 games, 13 points behind Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. Although Arsenal climbed one place to fifth, Arsene Wenger’s team is 24 points behind the leader with virtually no chance of winning the title.

After four consecutive victories in league and cup play and chasing a fourth straight shutout, the Gunners fielded five players in midfield with just Thierry Henry up front. With United also massed in midfield, the game lacked the thrills of past encounters between the two English soccer powerhouses.

Robert Pires had an angled shot pushed round the post by United keeper Edwin van der Sar and Henry curled a 25-yard free kick just wide. Just before halftime, United created its first clear chance when Ruud van Nistelrooy’s shot was acrobatically blocked by goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, and Cristiano Ronaldo put the rebound over the bar.

United almost captured all three points near the end when Brown met a corner from Ronaldo with a firm header, but Eboue, who had just entered the game as a substitute, was perfectly placed at the foot of the post to clear the ball off the line.

Copa del Rey

MADRID: Real Madrid needed a second-half goal by David Beckham to beat Athletic de Bilbao 1-0 while FC Barcelona defeated third-division side Zamora CF 3-1 in first-leg games of the fifth round in the Copa del Rey.

Beckham slid 10 yards from goal to connect with a low cross from the left wing by Brazilian Robinho, chipping the ball over stretching Bilbao keeper Daniel Aranzubia and beneath the crossbar in the 71st minute.

Athletic travels to Madrid for the second leg on January 12. Earlier, Zamora surprised its home fans when it took the lead in the fifth minute with a goal by Joaquin “Xaco” Gomez Cela. But the third-division side failed to produce a single chance the rest of the game.

Barcelona, playing with many reserve players, equalised in the 37th minute on a goal by Dutch defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Although the Spanish first-division leader dominated, it had to wait until the 81st minute for Mexican defender Rafael Marquez to put it ahead. French midfielder Ludovic Giuly scored the third goal with five minutes to go.

The two sides play the return leg in Barcelona on January 11.