Darren Fletcher played 90 minutes for Manchester United reserves in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.
The Scot made a successful return from a virus but Warren Joyce's team were beaten despite a well-taken goal from Mame Biram Diouf, who later went off injured.
Fletcher made a hefty early tackle and fed Paul Pogba with a fine pass as he settled in to his midfield role early on.
Sanchez Watt and Chuks Aneke were Arsenal's goal scorers.