Wayne Rooney exposed part of the blueprint that saw Manchester United take maximum points from Arsenal at Old Trafford. United felt that they might have an advantage from from set pieces by exploiting their height advantage in the 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Rooney’s corner from the left side set up strike partner Robin van Persie (former Arsenal player, as Wenger likes to remind us), whose first-half glancing and looping header proved to be the winner against an Arsenal side who suffered their third defeat from their last six matches.
Man of the match Rooney told Sky Sports 1: 'We knew we’d have to win today at all costs. I think we defended really well and thankfully Robin got the three points and we got the three points, and I think it was a great effort from everyone.'
Rooney added: 'We knew we couldn’t afford to lose today and we couldn’t let Arsenal get 11 points ahead of us, and I think the other results today and yesterday...we knew a victory would put us right back in there and we’re in a good position.
'We worked on free-kicks and corners as Arsenal have a lot of smaller players in the team and that could give us the opportunity to get a goal, and thankfully it’s paid off.'