LIKE all coronations it was heavy on symbolism. Gary Neville thrust the Premier League trophy skywards for the hierarchical reason of being club captain, though he has made just 12 starts in the competition all season and did not play yesterday. No Liverpool fan would have dreamed of keeping their television tuned in for the celebrations, but “are you watching Merseyside?” was what boomed from the Old Trafford stands. And on a day when nothing much happened on the pitch, the big gestures were happening off it. More than two hours after full-time there were still Manchester United supporters outside the directors entrance singing a now-familiar song: “Fergie, Fergie, sign him up.”

It takes a big personality and a major issue to divert attention from a historic achievement like United winning an 18th English title and equalling what once seemed the once-unattainable record belonging to Liverpool, but a little South American does. Carlos Tevez appeared for a post-match television interview wearing not a United but an Argentina shirt. Substituted by Sir Alex Ferguson in the 67th minute, he lingered on the field, waving to all corners of the stadium. “This is the last time you’ll see me,” he appeared to be saying to the fans.

This prospect so appals the United following that there was the almost embarrassing phenomenon of Ferguson being drowned out as he tried to make a victory speech following the trophy presentation. The manager looked as weary as he did isolated as the “sign him up” chants blared above the words he attempted to deliver. Ferguson had embraced Tevez when the game finished and maintains he wants to keep him but Kia Joorabchian, who fronts the mysterious consortium that owns Tevez’s registration, says that behind the scenes United are not making the requisite moves to keep the player. Those, according to Joorabchian, involve nothing less than paying £24m on top of the £8m spent “hiring” Tevez since 2007.

If Ferguson really wants something to happen at Old Trafford it generally does, and there is a suspicion that retaining the Argentine is not high on his list of priorities. After his substitution, Tevez sat in the dugout tearfully. “I like Manchester. I like the fans. It is very difficult to leave Manchester,” he said. Asked whether he had been waving goodbye he replied: “Maybe, maybe.”

What is awkward for Tevez and his admirers is that he is seldom as effective when starting matches than when charging into their midst from the bench. Ferguson values him as an impact substitute. When arriving into a game, Tevez is often able to affect it with his energy and enthusiasm, but asked to ration those qualities and deploy them over a longer period he proved unable to here. He was responsible for botching United’s best opening in a 90 minutes containing few opportunities. A Darren Fletcher centre found him near the penalty spot and Kolo Toure slipped, leaving Tevez space to control and be left one-on-one with Lukasz Fabianski. But his touch was heavy and Fabianski stopped him.

In fairness to Tevez none of the game’s other forwards were distinguished. Even Cristiano Ronaldo was more effective defensively than attack-wise, making several clearing headers from inside his own box. Though Ferguson freshened his side by bringing Ryan Giggs, Fletcher and Tevez into his starting XI, a tough evening at Wigan in midweek appeared to have sapped United. Arsenal, with their young legs and sense of wanting to make amends for United outplaying them in Europe, seemed more eager and they were more feisty, picking up five bookings, all for late tackles.

Had they stolen a late goal and pooped the United party, it would have been no surprise and the moment looked like coming when Robin Van Persie lined up a free kick on the edge of United’s box in the second of the three minutes’ stoppage time. Van Persie drove a powerful cross-cum-shot into the area and Michael Carrick, bravely, put his head in front of it. The ball cannoned to safety but the impact left Carrick temporarily stunned.

Carrick blinked and fluffed his hair with his hand in the manner of Stan Laurel but what United needed to be yesterday was hardy and they managed this, defending with an excellence their attackers and midfielders could not match. John O’Shea was the pick of Ferguson’s back four. Apart from Tevez’s opening, their best moment was when Ji-Sung Park and Ronaldo exchanged passes for Park to score only for Ronaldo to be incorrectly penalised for offside. Ronaldo attacked Fabianski’s goal with free-kicks of varying accuracy but Arsenal had the greater weight of possession. Van Persie wasted their best chance, misdirecting a header in the first-half when Andrey Arshavin’s cross put him in a great position.

Now Ferguson can rest players for the showdown with Barcelona, and Fletcher could be the only of yesterday’s starting XI who also starts next week against Hull. The rest, in the words of Ferguson, will go “bouncing on to Rome.”

MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar 7, O’Shea 8, Vidic 7, Evans 7, Evra 7, Fletcher 6, Carrick 6, Giggs 6, Rooney 6 (Anderson 90min), Tevez 5 (Park 67min), Ronaldo 6

ARSENAL: Fabianski 7, Sagna 7, Song 8, Toure 6, Gibbs 7 (Eboue 76min), Denilson 7, 6, Fabregas 6, Arshavin 6 (Walcott 69min), Nasri 5 (Bendtner 69min), Diaby 5, Van Persie 6.

Star man: John O’Shea (Manchester United).

Yellow cards: Arsenal: Van Persie, Arshavin, Fabregas, Nasri, Song Billong.

Referee: M Dean.

Attendance: 75,468.