Van Gaal wins first away game as Man U boss post 2-1 victory over Arsenal

Louis van Gaal grabbed his first away win as Manchester United manager as his side battled on to beat Arsenal 2-1 and move up to fourth place in the Premier League table.

After long spells of dominance by Arsenal, left-back Kieran Gibbs turned Antonio Valencia's cross into his own net before United captain Wayne Rooney sealed victory with his side's first shot on target after 85 minutes.

Olivier Giroud came off the bench after being out for three months due to injury to pull a goal back for the hosts with a fierce strike in stoppage time, but it came far too late to rescue a point, The BBC reported.

While Van Gaal can finally celebrate a victory on the road as United boss at the seventh attempt, Arsenal's defeat leaves them with 17 points from 12 games, their lowest total for 32 years, and a title bid in ruins.

United is already 15 points adrift of leaders Chelsea and this result was hard for their fans to fathom, given how well they started and how shaky the United defence had appeared.

Former United striker Danny Welbeck played a prominent role as Arsenal began at a whirlwind pace, but they could find no way past visiting keeper David De Gea. The Spain international showed no ill effects from the finger he dislocated last week and his fine save after Jack Wilshere burst through was the first of many important stops.

After a clash between Wilshere and Marouane Fellaini, the Arsenal midfielder arguably fortunate not to be sent off for thrusting his head at the Belgian, United began to find their footing.

Fellaini and his central midfield partner Michael Carrick established a foundation in midfield that allowed their side to threaten firstly through Angel Di Maria and then Rooney.

Arsenal were still creating the best chances, however, and that pattern continued after the break until they suffered two setbacks in quick succession.

Firstly Wilshere was forced off after a heavy challenge by McNair, then United took the lead in bizarre circumstances that was doubled by Rooney just five minutes before full time.

Giroud's sparkling strike in reply would have been one to savour, but instead it offered little consolation on a depressing night for the home fans, the report added.