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VIDEO: We've got top guns says Moyes as United superheroes Rooney and Robin down Arsenal
DAVID MOYES last night hailed Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney as the striking greats who will drive forward his Manchester United revolution after they combined to defeat Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Van Persie haunted his former club once again when he headed home Rooney’s 27th-minute corner to seal a crucial 1-0 win that lifted United into fifth place and stretched their unbeaten run to nine games.
While United boss Moyes savoured the most important win of his reign, Arsene Wenger raised doubts about his Arsenal side’s mental resilience by claiming they had been “nervous”. They remain at the top, with a two-point cushion over Liverpool, but United have them in their sights.
“The performances of the two forwards merited their titles of top players,” Moyes said. “In the big game, they came up trumps. Great players score in big games and Robin is a great player. His sidekick, Wayne, played great as well. It is another step in the right direction for us, but we have a lot of steps to take here.
David Moyes Manchester United press conference
“I don’t think this result puts out any statement.
“Everyone for years has known how good Manchester United have been.
“My job, and the team’s job, is to show we can do that again.
“We will get a few bloody noses along the way, but the league is showing it’s not just Manchester United who will get that.”
Rooney admitted the threat of falling 11 points behind Arsenal meant United could not afford to lose yesterday’s clash at Old Trafford.
“We knew we’d have to win at all costs,” he said.
“We couldn’t let Arsenal get 11 points ahead of us.
“With the other results, we knew a victory would put us right back in there. We worked on free-kicks and corners as Arsenal have a lot of smaller players and we thought it could give us the opportunity to get a goal. It’s paid off.”
Wenger bemoaned his team’s lack of attacking thrust and admitted their poor record at Old Trafford – this was their six successive defeat here – could have been a factor.
“I think we were nervous in the first half,” said Wenger.
“We looked like we could score until the end but we lacked a little bit of sharpness.
“Maybe we were nervous because we haven’t won here for a long time.
“What we have learned today is that not only Manchester United can beat Arsenal but everybody can beat everybody in this Premier League.”
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