Manchester United kept within touching distance of
the top of the Premier League thanks to Danny Welbeck's
late winner at Arsenal.
United knew they needed a win to keep close to leaders
Manchester City and they looked on course for victory
when Antonio Valencia nodded home Ryan Giggs' cross.
Arsenal rallied in the second half and pulled one back
through Robin van Persie, but their hopes of a point
were dashed nine minutes from the end when Welbeck steered
Valencia's cross home from close range.
The game was not a patch on City's 3-2 win over Tottenham
in terms of entertainment and quality, but Sir Alex
Ferguson will be happy to have ground out another win
which further proves he still has the know-how to formulate
a title challenging team at the grand old age of 70.
In reality, though, Arsenal made their task much easier
thanks to an abject first-half defensive display from
the Gunners' makeshift back four.
Despite the thrilling nature of the encounter between
Tottenham and City - the two newest entrants in to the
title race - earlier today, Arsenal v Manchester United
has proved to be a humdinger of a game in Premier League
history.
Pizza-throwing tunnel clashes, touchline spats and
on-field rucks have taken place in recent encounters
and today's match had even more added spice as the Gunners
were out for revenge after their 8-2 humiliation at
Old Trafford.
Both managers had predicted a cagey encounter on this
occasion, however, and the first 10 minutes suggested
they were right to do so.
Jonny Evans cleared an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cross
and Anders Lindegaard easily gathered a shot from Aaron
Ramsey.
Theo Walcott embarrassed Phil Jones with his quick
feet, causing the defender to trip up and hit the deck
and he had to come off for Rafael after just 15 minutes.
Per Mertesacker and Johan Djourou cleared dangerous
United crosses and Valencia just failed to tap home
a flick-on.
Giggs tested Wojciech Szczesny at his near post from
a tight angle.
Oxlade-Chamberlain bamboozled Patrice Evra to sneak
in to the United box and laid off to Walcott, but he
blazed over from 18 yards.
Evra then easily beat Alex Song down the left and crossed
for Nani but Szczesny saved.
Giggs played Wayne Rooney into the box and the striker
went down after appearing to have his arm pulled by
Song but Mike Dean waved play on.
The ability of United's wingers to skip past makeshift
full-backs Vermaelen and Djourou was a particular source
of frustration for the home support.
Nani easily beat the Swiss and whistled a sharp ball
across the box.
In the opening minute of first half injury time Giggs
was given space down the left flank and he floated a
cross over to the back post where Valencia beat Vermaelen
in the air to nod home.
Arsenal went off at half-time to a chorus of boos and
Wenger, clearly unimpressed by Djourou's contribution,
replaced the defender with 18-year-old Nico Yennaris
who was making his league debut.
Van Persie was presented with an easy chance five minutes
after the break when Tomas Rosicky pinched the ball
off Chris Smalling and squared for him but he fired
wide from 10 yards with the goal gaping.
Van Persie then tricked his way past three United defenders
and squared for Rosicky but his drive was blocked by
Evra.
Laurent Koscielny burst in to the United half and laid
the ball off to Oxlade-Chamberlain but his drive flew
barely an inch wide.
Welbeck raced through after a headed clearance from
the United back line and slipped the ball past the advancing
Szczesny only to see his goal-bound effort cleared off
the line by Per Mertesacker.
The striker fell in the challenge from Arsenal's goalkeeper,
but despite United's protestations, Dean did not pull
play back for a penalty.
Then with 20 minutes to go, Arsenal stunned the visitors
with an equaliser.
The Gunners broke through Oxlade-Chamberlain who squared
for Van Persie and his reverse shot flew through Evans'
legs and in off the post.
Arsenal fans reacted with fury when Wenger brought
Oxlade-Chamberlain off two minutes later for Andrey
Arshavin.
Nani hobbled off and was replaced by Paul Scholes after
being injured in a tackle and Ferguson sacrificed substitute
Rafael for Park Ji-sung.
The Emirates Stadium was shocked in to near silence
with nine minutes left after Welbeck put the Red Devils
ahead.
Valencia lost his marker Arshavin and played a clever
one-two with Park before squaring to Welbeck, who bundled
home from close range.
Van Persie flung himself towards a header in injury
time but United cleared and Evans calmly guided Mertesacker's
header in to Lindegaard's arms soon after as the visitors
clung on for a vital win.
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