Man Utd1
Arsenal0
Robin van Persie downed old club Arsenal to blast Manchester United back into the English Premier League title race.
Van Persie rose unchallenged to guide home Wayne Rooney’s 27th-minute corner to spark scenes of jubilation at Old Trafford and silence the taunts of the visiting supporters.
On another amazing weekend, in which Chelsea’s home draw on Saturday was followed within 24 hours by shock defeats for Tottenham and Manchester City, United have now closed to within five points of Arsenal, who suffered their first league defeat since the opening day of the season. Indeed, six points now separate the first eight in the table, with Liverpool and Southampton now Arsenal’s closest pursuers.
United deserved their triumph, too.
Quite apart from van Persie’s goal, Rooney ran himself to a standstill and Phil Jones was immense – initially in midfield and then central defence following the departure of Nemanja Vidic with a head injury.
Vidic went down after he collided with his own goalkeeper David de Gea’s knee just before half-time and remained on the ground for a number of minutes.
Manager David Moyes said: “He’s gone to hospital. It’s a terrible sort of clash. Hopefully, he’ll be OK.”