Guard of honour for champions Man United and fiery reception for former hero RVP who marks first return to Arsenal with equaliser

Robin van Persie earned a point for Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United in a 1-1 draw on his return to Arsenal.

The former Gunners captain received the expected hot reception as soon as he stepped out at the Emirates Stadium for a guard of honour, which was impeccably observed by the Arsenal team to mark United's achievements in marching to a 20th championship.

                             

Respect: Arsenal players gave the Premier League champions a guard of honour before kick-off

Collaboration: Jay-Z (far left) and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin were at the stadium

Clinical Walcott gives Arsenal an early lead

                             

A chorus of boos greeted Van Persie as he emerged from the tunnel at the end of the United line.
Those jeers, however, were soon replaced by raucous celebration as Walcott swept the hosts ahead, when Van Persie lost possession on the half-way line, and Arsenal countered quickly as the ball was worked up field to Tomas Rosicky, whose released Walcott down the right and slotted the ball past De Gea.

 Van Persie nicked the ball away from Bacary Sagna (left) in the area

The equaliser came on 44 minutes after Sagna inexplicably gave the ball away to Van Persie, who sprinted on into the area. The France full-back recovered ground, but then slid in to trip his former team-mate, and Dowd immediately pointed to the spot.

                               
                                   

RVP blasts the ball home for the equalizer

Van Persie showing respect to his old club by refusing to celebrate

After some theatrics from Szczesny, Van Persie kept cool to fire the ball into the right corner - before turning away with no celebration.

                        

Arsenal started the second half with some purpose, as Rosicky's curled effort flew just wide.
United, though, always looked to have another gear, as Van Persie scampered away down the left before cutting a low cross back through the Gunners' six-yard box.

Rafael then lifted an angled drive over the bar from 20 yards before Rooney's downward header was gathered by the Arsenal keeper at the second attempt.
                          

Arsenal briefly rallied heading into the final 20 minutes, with Jones blocking a goal-bound effort from Ramsey and defender Laurent Koscielny firing over from the corner.

De Gea turned away a low, 20-yard strike from Carzola, before United substitute Ryan Giggs had a curling effort deflected behind following a quick counter.

Neither side, though, was able to press on and claim all three points, with a draw seeing Arsenal drop into fourth place as Lampard and Chelsea took care of ailing Swansea 2 - 0, but still two points ahead of Tottenham, albeit having played a match more in the race for Champions League qualification.