Robin van Persie haunted his old club, Arsenal again by scoring the only goal of the game as champions Manchester United beat English Premier League leaders Arsenal 1-0 at Old Trafford to revive their title challenge.
The Dutchman, who joined United in August last year struck in the 27th minute. Van Persie got the run on Olivier Giroud and attacked a Wayne Rooney corner before flicking his header over Kieran Gibbs on the post and into the net as United found a way through Arsenal’s zonal marking system.
This victory, arguably David Moyes’s most significant success since replacing the retired Sir Alex Ferguson as United manager, saw the title-holders move to within five points of Arsenal, who themselves remained two points clear at the top from Liverpool.
The only consolation for Arsenal fans on Sunday was that arch North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur also lost 1-0, to Newcastle, earlier in the day.
Victory would have seen Spurs go level on points with Liverpool but it was Newcastle who emerged triumphant following an inspired performance by goalkeeper Tim Krul at White Hart Lane.
Loic Remy scored the game’s only goal in the 13th minute. But that the visitors, fresh from beating Chelsea, took all three points owed much to a brilliant display by Dutch shot-stopper Krul, who produced a hatful of excellent saves. Newcastle moved up to ninth in the table, three points adrift of Spurs who remained in seventh place.
“He has had a few good ones for us, Tim,” said Newcastle manager Alan Pardew. “I think he is the best Dutch goalie for sure and I think he is the best in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City saw their away form prove fallible once again as second-bottom Sunderland beat them 1-0 for the fourth season in a row at the Stadium of Light.
Phil Bardsley dented City’s title aspirations with a 21st minute curler after the visitors failed to deal with Wes Brown’s long ball.