United's second win of the season over Arsenal took its unbeaten record against the Gunners to five matches and pushed the defending champion to 53 points.United looked confident throughout after reaching the League Cup final this week with a 3-1 win over Manchester City.
"We had a very good game last Wednesday and everyone had their confidence for this game," Nani said. "The manager just said you have to have the same attitude for this game.
"If you want to be a champion, you have to play every game."Arsenal, which only scored with 10 minutes left when Thomas Vermaelen's shot deflected off defender Jonny Evans, is in third place on 49 points after its first Premier League defeat since November. Manchester City is eight points back from Arsenal in sixth place after beating last-place Portsmouth 2-0, although City could easily climb higher since it has played two fewer matches than the four sides immediately above it.
Arsenal was expected to give United a tough match in north London and Andrei Arshavin's attempts to isolate Wes Brown, who was playing alongside Evans in central defense because of the absence of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, gave the Gunners early hope.But United took control with its 33rd-minute opener and could have won by a bigger margin, with Nani and Rooney both going close to scoring more.
Arsenal only managed to exert sustained pressure on United in the last 10 minutes. Nani created United's first goal when he danced between two defenders on the right touchline, dodged a third on the edge of the area and floated a cross from a narrow angle toward the far post. With Park rushing in behind for what would have been an easy finish, Almunia tried to flick the ball over the bar but pushed it into the net. "I don't know how to explain that," Nani said of his skill. "I'm working every day hard to be fit to play in the team."
Nani then played an integral role in the length-of-the-field counterattack that ended with Rooney calmly shooting past Almunia for his 100th Premier League goal. Arsenal's defense disintegrated as Park charged from inside his own half to score before Vermaelen finally roused a dispirited home crowd with his late goal.
United has now won three straight Premier League matches and is in strong contention for a record fourth straight title, despite rarely hitting top form this season after the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.
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