Park strike puts United on top of Premier League

Park Ji-Sung scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United moved to the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over former leaders Arsenal at Old Trafford here on Monday.

South Korea midfielder Park was on target four minutes before half-time when, after Nani’s cross deflected off Gael Clichy, he scored with an improvised header.

Victory left United two points in front of Arsenal with a game in hand over the Gunners and fellow title rivals Manchester City, champions Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

The final score might have been more emphatic had not Wayne Rooney smashed a second-half penalty high over the crossbar after Gunners defender Clichy was ruled to have handled in the box.

And England striker Rooney was denied in the closing minutes when Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny clawed away a well-struck chip.