Arsenal 1 Manchester United 3:As was the case when Chelsea came to visit the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, a head-to-head with a title rival has ended in heartbreak for Arsenal, thanks to a ruthless Manchester United display inspired as always by Wayne Rooney, with a little help from the much-maligned Nani.
The Portuguese was a long time in the shadow of his illustrious compatriot who departed for Real Madrid in the summer, but chose today, his 50th appearance for United, to take a game by the scruff of the neck like Ronaldo had done so many times before him.
He earned his luck with the opener after a cheeky backheel between two Arsenal defenders afforded him time to deliver a chip to the back post that was turned into the net by Manuel Almunia.
That was the 33rd minute and it took just another four for the winger to make an impact, this time breaking at pace, receiving the ball back off Rooney and slipping the striker through on goal again for a sublime finish.
It was a goal of the highest quality, followed by a third in the 52nd minute from Ji-Sung Park after the Arsenal defence was marked absent.
With 10 minutes to go defender Thomas Vermaelen got a consolation but the fightback the home fans craved never materialised and it was United who closed the gap on Chelsea to one point, though the Londoners have a game in hand against Hull during the week.
Arsenal remain five off the pace with games against Chelsea and Liverpool on the horizon.
“I think that was my best game. I played well, scoring and getting an assist,” Nani told Sky Sports afterwards. “It was a fantastic performance from the team and I was so happy to help. I’m working hard every day to be fit for the team.
“I want to help the team play well. I can feel the confidence of my team-mates, the fans and the manager.
“I’m so happy and want to continue this good form.”
Nani added: “We had a very good game (against Manchester City) last Wednesday and that gave everyone confidence for this match.
“The manager said we had to have the same attitude today if we want to be champions.”
Arsenal began well as Andrei Arshavin got away down the left, but his curling effort to the far post drifted wide.
Nani and Darren Fletcher then combined as they almost played in Rooney, but William Gallas made an important blocking tackle in the six-yard box. Alex Song — back from the African Nations Cup — then had to hack the ball clear at the far post as United again got clear down the right far too easily.
When Arshavin — who was ineligible for last season’s Champions League semi-final clash between the sides — burst away again, he lacked any support in the middle.
The Russian, though, remained Arsenal’s most potent attacking threat. In the 13th minute he skipped away down the left, cut back inside Wes Brown and curled another effort goalwards, which this time was only just wide of the far post.
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas suddenly burst into life with a surging run down the middle, before slipping in Arshavin, but the Russian lost his footing at the key moment and United cleared.
United — who have played a match more than Chelsea — slowly started to gain the upper hand and Gallas needed to make another timely tackle in the penalty area as Paul Scholes shaped to shoot.
Nani drilled the ball wide as Arsenal were again exposed in the right channel, before playing a key part in the goal which gave United the lead.
The winger skipped easily in between two defenders then chipping the ball back across goal. Almunia pushed it inside his far post, with Park Ji-Sung ready to tap the ball into the net.
Minutes later Fabregas’s shot following a corner was blocked and Nani broke again, dashing clear after picking the ball up from Rooney before squaring it for the England striker to sweep home his 22nd goal of the season, low into the corner.
The Gunners faced an uphill battle to get back into the match, with Arshavin firing wide from just inside the box — as manager Arsene Wenger was left to scratch his head and looked to the heavens for inspiration.
It could have been worse on 41 minutes, but Nani blazed his shot wide after more good work from Rooney down the left.
There was a hold-up at the start of the second half as Rooney received treatment following a knock on the knee in a challenge with Bacary Sagna.
The England forward, though, was soon back in the action, and tested Almunia with a fierce angled drive after cutting in from the left.
It was game over on 52 minutes, when United scored a third following another simple counter.
This time is was Park who broke clear, sprinting onto Fletcher’s chip into the Arsenal half and then slotting past Almunia from just inside the box.
The Gunners were also well beaten here 3-0 by Chelsea at the end of November, before a run of seven wins from nine hauled them back into title contention.
Fabregas, continued to drive his young team on, firing over and then just too close to van der Sar, then Song volleyed wide.
Theo Walcott came on as substitute — and Arsenal pulled a goal back with 11 minutes to go when Vermaelen’s volley took a deflection off Jonny Evans to wrong-foot van der Sar.
However, there was to be no grand finale as Wenger’s youngsters were again found wanting when it mattered most.