Nine Games Unbeaten

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney each struck to give Manchester United a vital win that ended Arsenal's 49 game unbeaten run.



Van Nistelrooy opened the scoring from the penalty spot following a controversial decision after Sol Campbell's challenge on Rooney.

Arsenal had chances of their own but were denied by excellent saves from United keeper Roy Caroll.

Rooney celebrated his 19th birthday by rounding off an excellent United move to make it 2:0.

Gabriel Heinze continued to shine for the Red Devils and proved again his £6.9m price tag but it was the stand in captain, Rio Ferdinand, who took centre stage.

Ferdinand's all round game was phenomenal and he easily deserved his man of the match award.

Arsene Wenger and his players were incensed by referee Mike Riley's handling of the game.

In the opening stages the Yorkshire man allowed the game to flow but as it progressed he was guilty of numerous high stake blunders.

Riley missed van Nistelrooy's knee high tackle on Ashley Cole, failed to award a penalty following Cole's tackle on Ronaldo and ignored a red card for Ferdinand's last ditch tangle with Freddie Ljunberg.

If Arsenal fans were upset at the first penalty decision they should turn their minds back to the penalty Robert Pires won against Portsmouth last season.

Manchester United's unbeaten run has now extended to nine Premiership games.