Man U upstages Premier League leaders Arsenal with 1-0 win

Defending champions Manchester United came out on the top of their Premier League battle against leaders Arsenal with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.

United star Robin van Persie, who scored for United against his former side Arsenal in both games last season following his 24 million-pound move, punished his former club once more with the winner by giving United a precious three points with a fine 27th-minute header from Wayne Rooney's corner.

According to the BBC, although Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insisted before the game that Van Persie was still 'an Arsenal man', however, the Dutchman showed no hesitation in celebrating the goal that pushed United up to fifth in the table and to within five points of their opponents.

The report mentioned that had United lost in the match, they would have been left 11 points adrift in the title race, a gap which might have proved beyond even the reigning champions.

It was a disappointing end to a week for Arsenal, which had made major statements of intent against Liverpool in the Premier League and away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, the report added.