Man. United’s Robin van Persie keeping Mathieu Flamini, of Arsenal, away from the ball.

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie’s soaring first-half header secured a 1-0 win over his old club Arsenal yesterday that pricked the visitors’ bubble and thrust the champions back into the Premier League title race.

The Old Trafford defeat checked Arsenal’s breakaway and left them with 25 points from 11 matches, two clear of Liverpool who thrashed Fulham 4-0 on Saturday, with United moving up to fifth place on 20.

Manchester City suffered a stunning 1-0 setback at struggling Sunderland, who had taken just four points from their 10 previous games, and dropped to eighth on 19 points.

Ambitious Tottenham Hotspur also hit an unexpected roadblock in losing 1-0 to Newcastle United at White Hart Lane, with visiting goalkeeper Tim Krul making a series of fine saves to keep a clean sheet.

Arsenal’s Old Trafford trip was a litmus test for both sides, with the North Londoners arriving as the form team eager to end years of hurt at United and charge 11 points clear of their old rivals under new management.

Alex Ferguson may have been watching from the directors’ box rather than shouting on the bench but David Moyes’s side ensured the outcome remained depressingly familiar for the Gunners, who have now won only one of their last 10 league games against United.

“This was a big result for us today. Arsenal have been in terrific form this season,” said Moyes after his biggest success so far at United.

It was Arsenal’s first away defeat since March after a run of 15 games unbeaten in all competitions while United showed they were picking up pace after a shaky start to the new era under Moyes.

Former Arsenal favourite Van Persie bagged his seventh league goal of the season when the Dutchman rose to deftly head home a Wayne Rooney corner at the far post in the 27th minute.

He celebrated the goal with abandon, sparing the visiting fans no agonies by racing away in delight and pumping the air with a clenched fist.

Arsenal failed to live up to expectations, creating few chances on a strangely muted outing for their record signing, Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, and could even have found themselves 2-0 behind after an hour when Rooney shot just wide.

The visitors were without their defensive rock Per Mertesacker, sidelined before the start with a stomach virus that also affected three other Arsenal players.

United had to replace Nemanja Vidic at half-time when the central defender suffered a head injury.

“He’s gone to hospital,” said Moyes.

“It’s a terrible clash, it’s an accident but hopefully he’ll be okay.”

Summaries

Man. United 1
Van Persie 27;
Arsenal 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 75,138.

Sunderland 1
Bardsley 21;
Man. City 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 40,000.

Swansea 3
Bony 56, 86; Dyer 74;
Stoke City 3
Walters 8; Ireland 25; Adam 90 pen;

HT: 0-2. Att: 19,242.

Tottenham 0
Newcastle 1
Remy 13;

HT: 0-1. Att: 36,042.