Arsenal 2 Manchester United 1

Despite their defeat in north London, United remain six points clear of Chelsea in second place and 12 ahead of Arsenal.  But Sir Alex Ferguson will know that lead could have been more convincing had they remained composed following what was at times a scrappy game, which until the closing moments never seemed destined to stick in the memory.

It had been a positive start by United, playing in their blue change strip, with Ryan Giggs finding space 20 yards out for a curling shot, which flew just wide. Arsenal, without suspended Brazilian Gilberto, struggled to break the visitors down in midfield but eventually started to see more of the ball. Henry flashed in an angled shot from the left touchline which flew straight at United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Referee Steve Bennett, who earlier this season sent Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to the stands, soon had to diffuse another potential flashpoint when fullback Emmanuel Eboue and Rooney tussled on the touchline, with both players raising their arms.

Good work from Alexander Hleb and Cesc Fabregas then got Emmanuel Adebayor away down the right.  His cross was deflected past the onrushing Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky flashed the loose ball over the crossbar from 18 yards.  As the half-hour mark passed, Fabregas’ strike from 25 yards was headed behind by Nemanja Vidic. 

Arsenal then created the best chance of the game so far.  Adebayor got away on the right again and his cross hung up perfectly for Henry at the far post. However, the normally clinical Frenchman could only head the ball straight back at Van der Sar.  Henry had a strong claim for a penalty turned down when Gary Neville appeared to miss the ball and clip the striker as he ran across the United skipper just inside the area. Giggs was flagged onside following a chip through by Paul Scholes, but he could not make the most of the opportunity as Jens Lehmann comfortably collected his shot from the left.

In the final minute of the first half, Henry tested Van der Sar with a low 25-yard strike after his initial freekick had been blocked by the wall.  There was still time for Lehmann to make a superb fingertip save onto the bar to turn over Rooney’s brilliant half-volley, after the ball had dropped to him some 25 yards out.  The veteran German then turned Henrik Larsson’s powerful header around the post from the resulting corner.

Arsenal started the second half in more determined fashion, but United continued to win the midfield battle and after 53 minutes they took the lead. Cristiano Ronaldo fed Patrice Evra on the overlap down the left and the fullback dashed forward to drill the ball across the six yard box.  Kolo Toure could only touch it on towards the far post, where Rooney was on hand to head in his first goal for eight matches.

Arsenal had little option but to raise their own tempo in order to avoid a first defeat at the Emirates Stadium.  However, once again the visitors were resolute in defending the final third.  With 24 minutes to go, Hleb was replaced by Van Persie.  His fellow Holland international Van der Sar needed treatment after being accidentally kicked by Vidic following a goal-mouth scramble. United seemed content to sit back on their lead as the match entered the closing stages, but that proved a costly mistake.

With only seven minutes remaining, Fabregas won the ball on the right, just outside the penalty area.  Rosicky took possession and drilled over a low cross into the six-yard box.  Henry flicked it on towards the back post where Van Persie arrived on cue to smash the ball up into the roof of the net for his 13th goal of the season.  Just when it seemed the match was set to end all square, Henry was perfectly positioned to meet Eboue’s pinpoint cross with a bullet header which gave Van der Sar no chance.