Park Ji-Sung scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United moved to the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over former leaders Arsenal at Old Trafford last night.

South Korea midfielder Park was on target four minutes before half-time when, after Nani’s cross deflected off Gael Clichy, he scored with an improvised header.

Victory left United two points in front of Arsenal with a game in hand over the Gunners and fellow title rivals Manchester City, while champions Chelsea are a further point behind.

The final score might have been more emphatic had not Wayne Rooney smashed a second-half penalty 17 minutes from time high over the crossbar after Gunners defender Clichy was ruled to have handled in the box.

And Rooney was denied in the closing minutes when 20-year-old Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, making his league debut, clawed away a well-struck chip.

For Arsenal, the sorry statistic of a fifth reverse concealed a desperately disappointing performance which did not get that much better even after Arsene Wenger had thrown Cesc Fabregas on in a last desperate bid to gain a point.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand insisted his side were good value for their hard-fought win.

'In these games sometimes you don't play well but you've got to go out and play as well as you can. We got the three points and that's the main thing.

'Three points is three points.'

'Arsenal test you in different ways, they are a very talented side with great players. But I thought today we contained them very well and we had the best chances.

'We missed a penalty, unfortunately, Nani had a great chance in a one-on-one so I'd say we probably shaded it.'

Left-back Patrice Evra added: 'We just play our football. I think we're powerful and we showed that tonight, I'm very pleased. Everybody is very focused and working hard, and that's why we got the result we deserved.'