Van Persie returns to face Gunners who have duo out with bug

Robin van Persie returned to the Manchester United starting line-up as David Moyes’ men took on the Dutchman’s former club Arsenal.

Van Persie missed a penalty against Real Sociedad but he teamed up with Wayne Rooney in a side that also contained Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Michael Carrick.

United were desperate to claw back the leaders’ eight-point advantage and were assisted by the absences of Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky, who had both fallen victim to a bug.

Man Utd: De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Jones, Carrick, Kagawa, Rooney, van Persie.

Subs: Giggs, Lindegaard, Hernandez, Nani, Cleverley, Fellaini, Januzaj.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud.

Subs: Wilshere, Monreal, Fabianski, Bendtner, Jenkinson, Gnabry, Hayden.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)