The Hindu : Sport / Football : Park puts Manchester United on top

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Park puts Manchester United on top

MANCHESTER: Manchester United went two points clear at the top of the English Premier League after Park Ji-sung's 41st minute goal gave Alex Ferguson's side a 1-0 victory in the high-stakes game with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday.

United was the better side throughout and would have won by a more handsome margin had Wayne Rooney not missed a 73rd-minute penalty after Gael Clichy had handled inside the area.

Arsenal, which started the game at the top, was disappointing as it struggled to test the United defence.

United never looked troubled once it took control with Park's sixth goal of the season four minutes before half time, a clever header from Nani's cross.

Good debut but…

Arsenal gave a Premier League debut to 20-year-old Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny and he made some crucial saves, including a spectacular stop to deny Rooney in the 85th minute, but United still edged it.

The match between two of the Premier League's powerhouses was watched at Old Trafford by a capacity crowd including 23 of the Chilean miners who were rescued in October, as well as United's former midfielder David Beckham.

They were not treated to a classic as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Szczesny, half the age of United's 40-year-old veteran keeper Edwin van der Sar, had his fingers stung by Rooney from 22 yards (meters) in the ninth minute, but it was the one of few saves the youngster was called to make.

Arsenal responded through Marouane Chamakh but his 12th minute header failed to trouble Van der Sar.

United started with Dimitar Berbatov, the league's leading scorer with 11 goals, on the substitutes' bench, and his side looked to be missing his impact when Nani fired wide after Sebastien Squillaci failed to properly clear Darren Fletcher's 23rd-minute cross.

Penalties not given

Both teams had claims for a penalty turned down, Chamakh's appeal waved away by referee Howard Webb after he appeared to be blocked by Rafael da Silva before Chamakh was lucky to escape at the other end when the ball seemed to strike his hand.

But with half time approaching, United took control through Park. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may want to know why his defenders allowed one of the smallest players on the pitch to head Nani's deflected 41st minute cross past Szczesny, but it was still an impressive finish as the South Korea international managed to bend backward and direct a looping header in. — AP

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