The champions came from behind to take the points and virtually end the hopes of Arsene Wenger's side.

Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners ahead early in the second half, but Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from the spot soon after.

And a brilliant free-kick from Owen Hargreaves 18 minutes from time gave Sir Alex Ferguson's men a crucial victory.

The first half was entertaining with the Gunners just shading things. That man Adebayor had at least three presentable opportunities to open the scoring, while Wayne Rooney twice went close at the other end.

Three minutes after the break Arsenal were in front as Adebayor bundled the ball home from close range after Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick left a Robin van Persie cross, wrongly expecting Edwin van der Sar to come and collect. Some TV replays suggested he may have done so with his hand.

Six minutes later United were level as William Gallas handled as Carrick played the ball into the Arsenal box.

Ronaldo was forced to take the penalty twice but kept his nerve to slide the ball low into the corner past Jens Lehmann.

And the winner came on 72 minutes when Hargreaves stepped up to curl a free-kick beautifully over the Arsenal wall and into the corner of the flat-footed Lehman's net.

The win means United are now six points clear of Chelsea at the top, though the Blues do have a game in hand.

Liverpool cemented their hold on fourth spot in the table by beating Blackburn 3-1 at Anfield earlier in the day.

Off the field the club may be racked by internal strife, but on it the Reds closed in on a Champions League spot next season with a comfortable victory.

Second-half goals from Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin meant that a late strike from Roque Santa Cruz was just a consolation for Rovers.

After a goalless first 45 minutes Liverpool took command in the second half.

Gerrard opened the scoring on the hour, sliding the ball home after playing a one-two with Lucas Leiva.

And that man Torres netted for the seventh consecutive home game when he headed home a Gerrard cross eight minutes from time.

Sub Voronin slid home the third from a John Arne Riise cross as the game entered stoppage time, before a fine Santa Cruz volley gave Rovers something from the game.