Welbeck gives champions lift

IT was not vintage Manchester United but still a performance of champions, digging out victory when it looked like they were losing ground in the Premier League title race.

Helped by Arsene Wenger’s decision to take off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, to the anger of Arsenal fans, United snatched a late victory through Danny Welbeck’s winner and stayed within three points of the summit.

The pressure was on Alex Ferguson’s men after Manchester City’s dramatic win over Tottenham and momentum appeared to with the hosts after Robin van Persie cancelled out Antonio Valecia’s opener.

But United left it late themselves, as they often do, before Welbeck struck after Valencia’s run into the penalty area at the Emirates Stadium.

It was never going to be a repeat of the 8-2 scoreline from earlier in the season.

Wenger included seven players from the Old Trafford thrashing, with the hope they were not scarred by the experience.

Thomas Vermaelen did not play in that game but he returned from a calf injury to feature, appearing to strengthen Wenger’s defence until he was beaten in the air for Valencia’s goal on the stroke of half time.

United had played within themselves before the deadlock was broken. While City and Spurs traded blow for blow 200 miles north, this was a more considered display from the champions.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, preferred to Andrei Arshavin and impressing while England manager Fabio Capello watched on, gave them a few scares in the early stages with fearless running at Patrice Evra.

And Ferguson was also forced into a change when Phil Jones went over his left ankle and was carried off on a stretcher, replaced by Rafael da Silva. But there were no genuine chances for Arsenal and gradually United started to impose themselves on the game.

They sensed weakness on Arsenal’s right flank, with Nani asked to run at Johan Djourou, who spent most of the first 45 minutes chasing the Portugal winger before getting substituted for Nico Yennaris, 18, at the interval.

The opener, in first-half stoppage time, inevitably came from that area. Evra challenged for a loose ball and it led to Nani being given room to assess his options before freeing Ryan Giggs.

Giggs’ deep cross between goalkeeper and defence found Valencia, who climbed above Vermaelen and headed into the bottom corner.

Arsenal, after Yennaris replaced Djourou, fought back in the second half. Chris Smalling’s slip allowed Tomas Rosicky to race through and set up Van Persie, who shot wide.

Aaron Ramsey, 17 years younger than Giggs but battling manfully against his fellow Welshman in central midfield, was the next to go close, driving just over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Welbeck had an effort cleared off the line by Per Mertesacker but Arsenal were level 19 minutes from the end following a move that started in their own penalty area when Laurent Koscielny pinched the ball off Rafael.

Forward Arsenal went, with Rosicky switching play to Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose deft first touch saw him careering towards the penalty area.

The ball was slipped to Van Persie and the Dutchman’s shot on the turn went through Jonny Evans’ legs and in off the post. Van Persie, who has now set a new personal high of 19 Premier League goals in a season, revealed a T-shirt wishing his 91-year-old grandfather a happy birthday.

Van Persie and Arsenal fans were not happy with Oxlade-Chamberlain’s substitution, and substitute Rafael was not happy with getting taken off either.

But it led to United going ahead again nine minutes before the end, with Valencia cutting inside from the right, exchanging passes with Ji-Sung Park before teeing up Welbeck to finish.

On a day when the blue half of Manchester grabbed a vital win, United showed that this title race will go down to the wire.