LONDON (Reuters) – Champions Manchester United delivered a devastating statement of Premier League title intent by beating rivals Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.

United produced a superb attacking display, taking the lead when Nani’s cross was turned into his own net by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia after 33 minutes before Wayne Rooney started and finished a stunning counter-attack before halftime.

Park Ji-sung got the third seven minutes after the interval and Arsenal had only the minor consolation of Thomas Vermaelen’s deflected volley 10 minutes from time.

“We delivered a completely off-the-mark performance and that’s why we were well beaten,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

“We gave them too much room, we were naive and that’s why we have to stick together and produce a much better performance next Sunday when we go to Chelsea.”

Chelsea, who won 2-1 with a late goal at Burnley on Saturday, top the standings on 54 points, one ahead of United and five clear of Arsenal. Chelsea have a game in hand on both rivals and play it against Hull City in midweek.

Arsenal went into the United match full of confidence after a 10-game unbeaten run and both sides showed total commitment to attack.

Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin escaped three times down the left but finished poorly on each occasion while Nani looked highly dangerous down the United right.

It was the Portuguese winger who made the breakthrough with a brilliant piece of trickery to get past three Arsenal defenders and when he hoisted over a deep cross, Almunia, trying to turn it over the bar, only flapped it into the net.

SNUFFED OUT
The second goal was a classic as United snuffed out an Arsenal attack in their own penalty box and broke.

Rooney turned the ball into the path of Nani before sprinting 70 metres to collect the return and sweep it in first time.

It was the 100th Premier League goal of the 24-year-old England striker’s career and came just over seven years after he opened his account with a stunner for Everton against Arsenal when he was 16.

United’s third was another long-range break and hesitant defending allowed Park to travel from halfway before slotting calmly past Almunia for his first goal of the season.

Vermaelen’s deflected volley 10 minutes from time led to a brief flurry but United held out and could have added to their own tally when Rooney, who delivered yet another wonderful all-round display, shot just wide in stoppage time.

United will be hugely buoyed by completing the league double over Arsenal but Arsene Wenger’s side will need to bounce back immediately at Chelsea next Sunday followed by a home game against Liverpool.

In yesterday’s other game, Emmanuel Adebayor marked his return to the Premier League after Togo’s traumatic time at the African Nations Cup with the opening goal in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over bottom club Portsmouth at Eastlands

Vincent Kompany headed the second at the end of the first half as City won without breaking sweat to close on Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for fourth place.