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Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0: Lift-off for David Moyes as Robin van Persie seals victory over Gunners

by Simon Williams at Old Trafford

Manchester United gave their under-pressure manager David Moyes a massive boost with a narrow win over league leaders Arsenal.

Robin van Persie has never failed to score against his former employers since leaving the Emirates last season.

And he made it three games in a row with a headed goal on 27 minutes to move United into fifth, five points behind Arsenal.

For both sides the game was an acid test for different reasons.

United were looking to make it three league wins on the bounce for the first time this season.

For Arsenal it was a case of extending their lead at the summit of the table and in doing so achieving their highest-ever points tally after 11 league matches.

News from the Arsenal camp pre-match was of a virus that sidelined both Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky who both returned to London ahead of kick-off.

The league leaders looked lethargic in their approach in the opening stages and were happy to sit deeper in an attempt to draw the home side onto them.

Wayne Rooney was first to test the resilient Gunners’ defence with a 30-yard effort that was comfortably held by keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

But despite the away side’s determination in front of goal United eventually opened the scoring midway through the first half through van Persie.

Fourteen of United’s last 19 league goals have been scored or assisted by van Persie or Wayne Rooney. So it was no surprise when Rooney’s perfectly delivered corner was headed home by the former Gunner with the faintest of touches.

The game opened up after the break following the loss to injury of United captain Nemanja Vidic following a collision with David de Gea in the closing stages on the first half.

The Serbian was replaced by Tom Cleverley which meant that Phil Jones, who had looked impressive in stifling Mesut Ozil, was moved into his more natural position in the middle of the back four.

Thomas Vermaelen, Ozil and Rooney all had good efforts for their respective teams in the opening stages of the second half, but failed to find the back of the net.

Nicklas Bendtner and Giroud nearly stole a point in the dying embers of the game but neither striker could tap home Bacary Sagna’s whipped cross from the right.

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