MANCHESTER UNITED REINVIGORATED their Premier League title defence by winning 1-0 at home to leaders Arsenal on Sunday to close to within five points of the early-season pace-setters.
Robin van Persie claimed the game’s only goal in the first half, scoring against his former club for the third match running, to condemn Arsene Wenger’s side to a first league loss since their defeat by Aston Villa on the opening day.
Victory allowed United to climb to fifth in the table, with defeats for Tottenham Hotspur and local rivals Manchester City earlier in the day enabling them to move above both of their fellow title contenders.
Having seen his side pick up just a point from earlier games against Chelsea, Liverpool and City, United manager David Moyes will hope Sunday’s victory marks the end of an awkward bedding-in period at Old Trafford.
He will also have drawn strong encouragement from the performance of Phil Jones, who began the game in midfield but deputised magnificently at centre-back after Nemanja Vidic had to go off through injury.
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Arsenal remain top going into the international break, two points above Liverpool, but having overseen an impressive win at Borussia Dortmund in mid-week, Wenger is likely to have been concerned by their toothlessness.
Illness deprived Arsenal of the services of centre-back Per Mertesacker, with Thomas Vermaelen deputising, while Mathieu Flamini replaced Tomas Rosicky after overcoming a groin problem.
United made four changes to the team held 0-0 by Real Sociedad in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Jonny Evans, Michael Carrick, Jones and Van Persie coming into the side.
The stakes, and the opposition, made for an untypically raucous atmosphere inside Old Trafford and the home side made a vigorous start.
Chances were scarce in the game’s early stages, save for a deflected Wayne Rooney effort that was comfortably saved by Wojciech Szczesny, but in the 27th minute, United struck.
Rooney curled a corner into the box from the left and Van Persie stole between Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud to glance a header over defender Kieran Gibbs and into the top-right corner.
Seeking to atone, Giroud headed over moments later, but the Frenchman could have handed United a second goal when he appeared to impede Rooney inside the Arsenal box, only for referee Michael Oliver to wave play on.
Szczesny and Vidic each sustained heavy bangs to the head prior to half-time, but whereas the Arsenal goalkeeper was able to continue, Vidic had to go off, with Tom Cleverley coming on and Jones dropping into defence.
Arsenal began to make inroads after the break, with Vermaelen bending a free-kick over the bar and Mesut Ozil hitting the side-netting, before Ramsey struck a low effort straight at David de Gea.
They were unable to get in behind United’s defence though, and Rooney came within inches of doubling his side’s lead when he drilled narrowly wide with his left foot after Van Persie helped on a Shinji Kagawa flick-on.
Wenger packed an extra creative body into his midfield by sending on Jack Wilshere for Flamini, but although Arsenal continued to push, United’s defence held firm.
Chris Smalling squandered a chance to give United breathing space when he miscued a header from a Van Persie free-kick, but he proved more adept at the other end with a superb tackle to thwart Giroud.
Bacary Sagna gave Moyes one last scare with a cross from the right that needed just a touch, but substitute Nicklas Bendtner could not make contact, and United were safe.
Judas, hope he goes the same way as torres , Especially after celebrating the way he did against the team that made him who he is and stuck with him throughout all his injuries.
Just shut up he left the club to win trophies.
Ur fans called him a cun*
He didn’t celebrate against arsenal
Ur fans still call him a cun*
Then he celebrates to get revenge
RVP 1
ARSENAL 0
What were you saying about Arsenal last week peter ? They were going to stuff Utd or words to that effect , and the gap would be back to 9 pts ????
Wrong again !!
RVP first season away from Arsenal, after giving them seven great years, and he wins Premiership medal. Fair play to him staying loyal with a stepping stone club for so long.
fantastic result fantastic performance,they only came back into it because we brought on that other clown cleverly,and i LOVED rvp’s celebration,yeah he’s a real gunner allright wenger !!!! hahahaha leave the mind games to fergie !!
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Poor Piers Morgan… He must be in tears!
Oooooooh Robin van Persie
traitor
Nah you’re right. He hasn’t got Suarez level for diving and biting
Judas, hope he goes the same way as torres , Especially after celebrating the way he did against the team that made him who he is and stuck with him throughout all his injuries.
The team that made him? You mean the team he left because they sold every other good player around him?
Just shut up he left the club to win trophies.
Ur fans called him a cun*
He didn’t celebrate against arsenal
Ur fans still call him a cun*
Then he celebrates to get revenge
RVP 1
ARSENAL 0
That’s says it all , that one statement
What were you saying about Arsenal last week peter ? They were going to stuff Utd or words to that effect , and the gap would be back to 9 pts ????
Wrong again !!
RVP first season away from Arsenal, after giving them seven great years, and he wins Premiership medal. Fair play to him staying loyal with a stepping stone club for so long.
Arsenal made Lfc look like a DDSL team last weekend and Peter SAID they’d stuff United, loving it !!!
Hardly 7 great years, injured most of them. Deadly last season then he does one. Miss him and hate him so much
Arsenal urgently needs a world class striker to make them the team to beat!!!
And back up in Central Defence.
Paddy power had RVP to score and UTD to win 1-0 @ 25-1 !!!!!
Pints on Jbrmc…
he’s still not as good as suarez
Course he ain’t as good as Suarez. He is the the best……. At diving and biting and cheating
Rubbish match. All the armchair fans talking same shite. Rovers for life.
Paul don’t hide ! How did jammy Chelsea do yesterday !
well spotted Troll buster, although in fairness Paul isn’t really good at this….
Yeah, Suarez is better than Young at diving…. What have you been watching? He does like his snickers though :)
United win and their fans start giving it the big one! Haha love it
fantastic result fantastic performance,they only came back into it because we brought on that other clown cleverly,and i LOVED rvp’s celebration,yeah he’s a real gunner allright wenger !!!! hahahaha leave the mind games to fergie !!