Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal: Moyes hails big win

Robin van Persie downed his old club Arsenal to blast Manchester United back into the Premier League title race as David Moyes enjoyed his biggest win as manager at Old Trafford, watched over by his illustrious predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson.

From a Wayne Rooney corner, Manchester Uniteds Robin van Persie sends his header into the Arsenal net. Picture: PA

Scorer: Manchester United - Van Persie (27)

Referee: M Oliver

Attendance: 75,138

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 fans. 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 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.

“This was a big result for us today,” said Moyes. “Arsenal have been in terrific form this season and we had to play well ourselves today to get the result.” Moyes believes the Premier League title will be a close call this season, and added: “I don’t think anyone’s going to run away with it. I think it will be a close-run league this year.

“There will be a few shocks and we think we’ve had one or two at the early part of the season, but I’m pleased we’ve been able to show a little bit more consistency and a bit more momentum, and let’s hope we continue that.”

Quite apart from Van Persie’s goal, Rooney ran himself to a standstill and Phil Jones was immense, initially in midfield, then in central defence following the departure of Nemanja Vidic with a head injury.

Man of the match Rooney said: “We knew we’d have to win today at all costs. I think we defended really well and thankfully Robin got the three points and we got the three points, and I think it was a great effort from everyone.

“We knew we couldn’t afford to lose today and we couldn’t let Arsenal get 11 points ahead of us, and I think the other results today and yesterday…we knew a victory would put us right back in there and we’re in a good position.”

The hosts owed a debt of thanks to Chris Smalling too. Smalling might have wasted an outstanding chance to seal victory when he failed to get a proper connection to Van Persie’s deep free-kick and headed disappointingly wide. But, just as Olivier Giroud was lining up a shot from an excellent position inside the United box, it was Smalling who stepped in to make the decisive tackle and preserve United’s unbeaten home record against the Gunners that stretches back to 2006.

There was no real surprise Van Persie should return to the United starting line-up, still less that the Dutchman celebrated the opener with relish. The trend has been for players to merely acknowledge what they had done, rather than glory in the pain caused to their old club. Van Persie refrained himself when he scored in the corresponding fixture last term. However, the vicious taunts aimed at him by the visiting contingent throughout the opening stages at Old Trafford evidently changed his stance.

For Van Persie raced away in glee as his header flew over Kieran Gibbs before he was submerged by team-mates, then adopting a clenched fist salute as he re-appeared. The blame for Van Persie’s goal seemed to be pinned on Aaron Ramsey, who moved away from his station as Rooney delivered the corner.

There had to be some culpability as it was surely not part of Arsene Wenger’s game-plan to afford such a predatory striker so much room. It was not the only issue for Wenger to address at half-time. Since that shock opening-day defeat to Aston Villa, that first period was as bad as Arsenal have been. Missing Per Mertesacker due to a virus that was also affecting Mikel Arteta, the Gunners lacked the zip that has taken them clear at the Premier League summit. Only Mathieu Flamini escaped the malaise, and he was booked for a late tackle on Jones.

The young England star was one of United’s stand-out performers, driving out of midfield in a manner so lacking for the past three seasons. He was also at the centre of the first of two worrying head clashes. Cautioned when he clattered into Wojciech Szczesny, TV replays showed the contact to be accidental. For a few seconds, the Arsenal keeper did not move.

After treatment, Szczesny continued, as did Jones, who had moved away rubbing his head. Nevertheless, given the recent furore over Hugo Lloris, the decision raised an eyebrow.

In the final seconds of the first half, Vidic went down in a heap after his face was crunched by David de Gea’s knee. There was no substitution as United reached the interval with ten men. The tough-tackling Serbian did not return for the second period though, as Moyes introduced Tom Cleverley and moved Jones back into a central defence that remained unbreached for the rest of the game.