Robin van Persie played both, hero and villain, as he contributed to goals from both ends, on his return to Emirates, for the first time since leaving for Old Trafford. In a match, where Arsenal held on to the reins (and to their nerves) for around the first hour, Manchester United came back from a losing position for the 28th time this season, thus throwing the race for the Champions’ League spots, wide open.

Arsenal started off incredibly, with Tomas Rosicky making the most of a mistake from Van Persie, in the 3rd minute, and slicing apart the United defence with a searing pass for Theo Walcott, who wasted no time in striding past Patrice Evra, and slotting the ball home, beneath the hands of David De Gea.

Robin Van Persie was always going to be the centre of attention when Champions Manchester United headed to Arsenal and the Dutchman further etched his name on the tie with 1^st half penalty which helped the away side to a 1-1 draw. The Gunners began the match in explosive fashion, possibly fired-up after the guard of honour offered to the Red Devils, and they had the lead after just two minutes when Theo Walcott, in an offside position, got behind Patrice Evra to score the opener. United gradually got back into the game and got the deserved equalizer a minute before half-time through Van Persie, who scored from the penalty spot after being brought down by Bacary Sagna.

The game as a whole was a throw back to the rivalry of old as plenty of tasty tackles kept referee Phil Dowd a busy man. Arsenal’s tempo died down in the 2^nd half and it was Untied who looked the likelier to score through a counter-attack. But there wasn’t to be another goal as Man United’s hopes of reaching a record points haul faded away while Arsenal’s top four hopes remain intact.

When Manchester United launched a £24 million summer bid for Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie, many questioned the wisdom of Sir Alex Ferguson's decision making. 28 goals later it has proved to be a masterstroke of epic proportions as the Dutchman produced the most sumptuous of hat-tricks against a poor Aston Villa side to guide United to an unprecedented 20th league title, while also claiming his very first.

While Arsenal fans will no doubt continue to be scowl both at the decision to sell their star striker, and how it is has impacted proceedings this season, Van Persie is busy celebrating a long overdue title triumph, one his perhaps more beloved Arsenal can't even begin to dream off anytime soon.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out the sale of 24 year old Mexican striker Javier Hernandez. The energetic striker has made a significant contribution in United’s successful campaign so far as he managed 16 goals in 28 games for the Red Devils in all competitions. Although the Mexican is down the pecking order at Old Trafford with the likes of Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck leading the charge, Ferguson believes that Hernandez still has a big role to play at the club.

In praise of the striker’s professionalism,  the manager said, “I’ve said to him it’s not easy to keep leaving him out because a 16-goal tally in the number of games he’s started is a brilliant record. He does something every game; he changes it. He does something different to the other strikers.”

Manchester United produced an efficient performance at the Stadium of Light to register a comfortable 1-0 win courtesy an unfortunate own goal from Sunderland defender Titus Bramble. United dominated the first half and perhaps should have been out of sight at the end of it with Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet having a busy afternoon. Sunderland made more of a game of the contest in the second half, but never really threatened the United goal, who didn't need to really move out of second gear to seal all three points.

With one eye towards their FA Cup Quarter-final replay against Chelsea on Monday, and with so many of his stars having been in action in midweek, Sir Alex Ferguson sprung the changes to his Manchester United side for the trip to Sunderland in the early kick-off on Saturday. Sunderland meanwhile were looking to avoid getting dragged into the relegation dog fight, and desperately needed some points from this game.

Robin van Persie was the sole forward as Sir Alex went in with a 4-4-1-1 formation with Shinji Kagawa slotting in behind the Dutch striker. Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez were both missing from the subs bench too, with Danny Welbeck providing striking cover. Anderson lined up alongside Michael Carrick in central midfield with Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia providing the width. Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling were the central defensive pairing with Rafael and Alex Buttner deployed as the full backs.

Sunderland too made a host of changes, though theirs were largely injury enforced. Titus Bramble and former United utility man John O'Shea protected Simon Mignolet in goal while Phil Bardsley and Tottenham loanee Danny Rose were protecting the wings. Adam Johnson and James McClean provided the natural width with Alfred N'Diaye coming in for Seb Larsson and Craig Gardner returning to midfield. Benin international Stephane Sessegnon was afforded the free role behind January acquisition Danny Graham, who led the line in place of the injured Steven Fletcher.

The first half was all United, with Sunderland seemingly forgetting to turn up at all, and being completely out-passed and out-played all over the park.

United's first chance fell to Van Persie rather predictably, but the Dutchman's header from a Rafael pass was timid and easily gobbled up by Mignolet.

United had the freedom of the Stadium of Light to operate and after some speculative efforts, Buttner drew a good save out of Mignolet after a surging run down the left.

Ashley Young had made an eventful start to the game, and after wasting an early free-kick saw his mishit cross tipped over the bar by the Belgian keeper.

It took United 27 minutes to get the goal their general play had deserved, but the way in which the ball found itself in the back of the net was quite fortunate. Robin van Persie's strike from the left was heading comfortably wide before being turned into his own goal by the long legs of Titus Bramble, who was having a decent game keeping RVP quiet till then.

Manchester United were forced into a first half substitution with Rafael hobbling off with Jonny Evans taking his place and Chris Smalling moved across to right back to realign things at the back.

Suddenly Mignolet was having a busy afternoon with Van Persie raining shots on goal which the Belgian was doing well to keep out. Sunderland were amazingly still in the game at the end of an insipid first half in which they found themselves just a goal down.

The Black Cats couldn't have played any worse in the first half, so they were always going to do better in the second, and to their credit at least there were waves after waves of United attacks on goal.

The second half took a while to heat up and there was very limited action for both keepers. David de Gea's busiest moment came when he was clattered into by his own teammate Vidic, and fortunately for United, who were in a compromised position with both men down, the referee blew the whistle. A drop ball was awarded on the edge of the box much to the disappointment of the home fans, and the chance came and went just as quickly.

United were by now largely playing on the break, and it wasn't till the 80th minute that Mignolet was called into action, keeping out Buttner's ambitious long range effort.

It was a spirited effort by Sunderland in the second half, but they didn't really offer anything of note in the game to ever really pose a threat to the United defence.

Van Persie had a terrific late chance to seal the points, but was brilliantly denied at point blank range by Mignolet, but it mattered not as Manchester United saw out the game to extend their lead at the top of the League standings to a massive 18 points. Sunderland meanwhile are slipping steadily closer to the drop zone and will surely start feeling the breath of the bottom four below them.

Teams:

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley (Larsson 79'), Bramble, O'Shea, Rose (Colback 85'), Johnson (Wickham 76'), Gardner, N'Diaye, McClean, Sessegnon, Graham.

Subs: Westwood, Larsson, Wickham, Kilgallon, Colback, Mangane, Mandron.

Man Utd: De Gea, Rafael (Evans 32'), Vidic, Smalling, Buttner, Valencia, Carrick, Anderson (Cleverley ), Young, Kagawa (Welbeck 79'), van Persie.

Subs: Lindegaard, Evra, Evans, Nani, Welbeck, Cleverley, Powell.

Score: Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United (Bramble 27' og)

In what was another important round of World Cup qualifiers, defending world champions Spain edged closer to a place in the World Cup finals in Brazil by beating tough rivals France 1-0 to get back on top of the group qualification standings. Pedro’s 58th minute goal was sufficient to get the victory as a spirited performance in goal from Victor Valdes ensured that Les Blues couldn’t get the equalizer. Young Paul Pogba’s 78th minute sending off ended hopes of a recovery for Didier Deshchamps men.

In another important qualifying game, England self-destructed in the second half against Montenegro away from home to be held to a dissatisfying 1-1 draw. After Rooney scored from skipper Steven Gerrard’s corner in just the 6th minute, England dominated the first half with a very impressive display to go into half-time in the lead. Their second half showing left a lot to be desired as Joe Hart was forced to make some heroic saves in the second half. The Manchester City goalkeeper was finally beaten from close range by Dejan Damjanovic in the second half and Montenegro got a well deserved draw.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took a cautious approach after his side’s 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night but admitted that a win is within their grasp to seal progression to the quarter-finals.

Talking to Sky Sports, Ferguson said, “It's very open. I think we'll score at Old Trafford but we know they are going to be a tremendous counter-attacking team so we've got a big job on our hands. But it's definitely within our grasp."