LONDON: Robin van Persie piled on the misery for former club Arsenal as Manchester United went top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford yesterday.
Victory in this early kick-off match saw United replace Chelsea in first place and that is where they stayed after the European champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Swansea.
In Manchester, van Persie needed fewer than three minutes to put United in front before Patrice Evra doubled their lead in the 67th minute.
Premier League title holders Manchester City could have drawn level at the summit with United but instead were left two points adrift of their local rivals following a goalless draw away to West Ham.
Arsenal’s day got worse when midfielder Jack Wilshere, in only his second game back following a long injury lay-off, was sent off for a second bookable offence after he caught Evra on the ankle.
Van Persie struck in the third minute when, after Thomas Vermaelen failed to clear a Rafael cross from the right, he shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
It was the 29-year-old van Persie’s 10th goal in 13 United appearances. Evra did make it 2-0 when he headed in a Rooney cross following a short corner.
Cazorla pulled a goal back for Arsenal with virtually the last kick of the match, but defeat meant the Gunners were left nine points off the summit just 10 games into the season.
After a goalless first half, Nigeria winger Victor Moses gave Chelsea a 61st minute lead at the Liberty Stadium with a flick-on following Gary Cahill’s header from an Eden Hazard corner.
But Pablo Hernandez’s equaliser two minutes from time saw the points shared.
Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini scored twice as Everton replaced Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place on goal difference with a 2-2 draw at Fulham.
Fulham took a seventh minute lead when Bryan Ruiz’s 25-yard free-kick went in off a combination of post and Everton keeper Tim Howard.
However, Everton equalised through Fellaini in the 55th minute and 17 minutes later he struck a low shot past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Steve Sidwell though rescued a point for Fulham with a late strike.
Wigan won 1-0 away to Tottenham with Ben Watson scoring the only goal when he shot home from close range following a 56th minute corner.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Agbonlahor scored for the first time in 29 league games as Aston Villa pulled clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win against a Sunderland side managed by former boss Martin O’Neill. AFP
