Manchester United down Gunners to move back to top

David Beckham was also in a star-studded directors' box to see the Red Devils secure a 1-0 triumph that maintains their unbeaten record.

Far more importantly to Sir Alex Ferguson's side, they leapfrog their opponents and go two points clear at the top of the Premier League, with a match in hand.

It should have been more. United wasted countless chances, the best of which was a penalty from Wayne Rooney 17 minutes from time that he ballooned over the bar.

For Arsenal, the sorry statistic of a fifth league reverse concealed a desperately disappointing performance which did not get that much better even after manager Arsene Wenger had thrown on star men Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie in a last desperate attempt to secure a share of the spoils.

Ferguson made the point in his programme notes that Arsenal are not the "lilywhites" they are often painted and so it proved during a tight first half in which the Gunners were well prepared to dish out some rough treatment.

On a ground where they have often been ill-treated in the past, the visitors were more than willing to stand toe-to-toe with their opponents.

South Korean Park is one of the men whose recent improvement has retained United's position among the title contenders.

It was his stoppage-time goal that secured victory over Wolves last month and it was an equally well-received effort that allowed United to seize the initiative.

Set free by Rooney's neat nod-down, Nani crossed from the right and not even a deflection off Gael Clichy could prevent the ball bouncing to Park, who contorted his body in such a way as to loop a header over Wojciech Szczesny and into the net.

Arsenal were a disappointment.

The in-form Samir Nasri was a virtual bystander while Andrey Arshavin got onto the ball far more often but his final ball was a major let-down.

United's captain Rio Ferdinand said: "Arsenal are a very talented side with great players.

"But I thought we contained them very well and we had the best chances.

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