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.