Park winner sends United top

Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal

A goal from Ji-Sung Park just before half time was enough to earn a win for Manchester United over Arsenal which sends the Red Devils to the top of the Premier League table.

Park improvised brilliantly to head home a deflected Nani effort four minutes before the break which proved to be the only goal in a frantic and often feisty encounter between the league’s top two at Old Trafford.

United were quickest out of the blocks and created the majority of chances in a first half which was played at a blistering pace, with both sides struggling to keep the ball for long stretches.

Neither keeper was unduly troubled with Nani coming the closest to breaking the deadlock when his first time half volley whizzed past the right hand post of Arsenal ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who made an assured Premier League debut for the Gunners.

Szczesny was helpless to prevent Park’s header before the break, a goal which drew comparisons with Javier Hernandez’s goal against Stoke earlier this season for the sheer brilliance of the improvisation.

The hosts seemed content to sit on their lead after half time and Arsenal began to dominate possession without troubling Van der Sar in the United goal.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were introduced by Wenger as Arsenal stepped up their search for an equaliser, but it was United who had the best chance to score when Gael Clichy was rather harshly adjudged to have handled on the floor in the penalty area with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Justice was served when Wayne Rooney blasted the ball high into the Stretford End and United were made to sweat a little more before claiming victory.

Arsenal, however, couldn’t find the inspiration required to level the scores as their miserable run against the Red Devils continued.

United are now two points clear of both Arsenal and Manchester City on top of the table with a game in hand.