Manchester, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Robin Van Persie's 27th-minute goal was the difference as Manchester United claimed a vital 1-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Gunners entered the match eight points clear of United at the top of the Premiership and riding a nine-game unbeaten streak in the league.
However, United turned in a disciplined defensive effort and became the first team in the league to hold Arsenal without a goal, while former Gunner Van Persie punished his old side with a header in the 27th minute.
Wayne Rooney drove a corner kick to the near post for Van Persie, who sent a looping header across the face of goal that nestled inside the far post.
It was one of the few chances in the opening 45 minutes for either side, while Rooney squandered a good opportunity to add to the lead on the hour mark when he fired a low shot just wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area.
Arsenal's attack was frustrated for much of the match, and Mesut Ozil could only manage to hit the outside of the net from 12 yards before a deflected shot from Olivier Giroud went wide in the second half.
Arsene Wenger's side remains on top of the league but sits only two points clear of second-place Liverpool.
Sunderland 1, Manchester City 0
Sunderland, England - Manchester City's road woes continued on Sunday as the Citizens stumbled to a 1-0 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light through a Phil Bardsley goal in the 21st minute.
City has now lost four of its six games away from home in the league this season, while the Black Cats won for only the second time in the Premiership, moving the team to within three points of safety.
Bardsley found the breakthrough near the midway point of the opening half when he took down a long ball from Wes Brown and shook off a defender before curling a shot past goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.
Sunderland then sat back and desperately defended its lead, leaving City with few openings and forcing the team to leave frustrated.
Newcastle 1, Tottenham 0
London, England - Tottenham failed to move into the top three on Sunday after sustaining a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle at White Hart Lane courtesy of a first- half goal from Loic Remy.
Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul deserves much of the credit for the win as he produced a number of fine stops for a well-earned clean sheet, while Remy kept his good run of form going with a seventh goal in his last seven league appearances.
The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Yoan Gouffran stole the ball from Tottenham midfielder Paulinho and played a through ball to Remy, who rounded goalkeeper Brad Friedel and tucked the ball into the net.
Krul made the lead hold up with a wonderful performance, and he had a bit of luck as well in the second half when a header from Jan Vertonghen struck the crossbar.
Swansea City 3, Stoke City 3
Swansea, Wales - Charlie Adam's penalty kick just before the final whistle salvaged a 3-3 draw for Stoke City at Swansea City on Sunday in a match that saw huge swings in momentum.
Stoke started the match brightly and the Potters went in front after eight minutes through Jonathan Walters before Stephen Ireland capped a nice build up in the 25th minute to make it 2-0 to Stoke at halftime.
But Swansea stormed back after the break with a goal from Wilfried Bony in the 56th and another from Nathan Dyer 15 minutes from time to level the contest.
The hosts snatched the lead in the 86th with another goal from Bony after he was set up by Jonjo Shelvey, but in the dying moments Swansea's Wayne Routledge was called for a handball inside his own penalty area.
Adam stepped to the spot and drove the ball into the lower left corner just before the final whistle, helping Stoke snatch a point.
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