With the prized scalp of Arsenal added to that of Liverpool within the space of seven decisive days, Manchester United proved they are back in business with a vengeance.

Despite a fearsome injury list, including Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane and David Beckham, the real United stood up to be counted at Old Trafford with a resurgent display to defeat the reigning champions.

This was United back to their very best as they moved within three points of the Gunners, who failed to score in the Barclaycard Premiership for the first time this season.

Arsene Wenger's side were a pale shadow of the team that had won the title at Old Trafford last season. So much for a change in the Premiership power base - at least yet, in any case.

United may have enjoyed their fair share of good fortune, with a suspicion of handball by Ruud van Nistelrooy in the build-up to Juan Sebastian Veron's 22nd-minute strike.

However, they outmuscled and out-thought their opponents, with Veron - in possibly his best game for the club - packing more of a punch than Patrick Vieira and, just as unpredictably, Phil Neville outplaying Gilberto Silva.

They were well worth their victory, with Paul Scholes rounding off the scoring with a flourish, and the statement of clear intent was there for all to see.

Ferguson's tactics were obvious from the outset - to flood the midfield, cut off Arsenal's supply lines and force Robert Pires and Fredrik Ljungberg to back-track.

Van Nistelrooy was therefore a lone central attacking spearhead, with Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the flanks.

That left Scholes, in an advanced role, to drop into space between Arsenal's defence and midfield, with Phil Neville and Veron left to combat Vieira and Gilberto.

United certainly started with a sense of urgency and van Nistelrooy unleashed a 20-yard effort which reserve goalkeeper Rami Shaaban managed to tip around the post.

But Fabien Barthez needed to be even more agile to deny Thierry Henry after the striker, despite appearing offside, instantly controlled a long-ball and attempted to guide his shot home.

That was as close as Arsenal came to scoring in the first-half despite the intelligent prompting of Pires, who also lobbed an effort just wide.

The visitors may have been aggrieved that the ball appeared to strike the upper part of van Nistelrooy's arm before he found Scholes charging to the byline as United took the lead.

However, the midfielder still had the composure to look up and pick his spot before cutting the ball back to Veron, who was charging into the penalty area at full pace.

The Argentina international, who missed last weekend's win at Anfield with a bout of flu, did not have to break stride before burying his shot from close range.

It was the kind of goal that was typical of Keane, whose absence from the United side has given Veron the chance to play in most effective central playmaker's role.

United's tails were now up, especially after van Nistelrooy required treatment after an apparent off-the-ball clash with Martin Keown.

If that was not bad enough for Arsenal, reserve keeper Shaaban was forced out of the action just before half-time after pulling a thigh muscle and was replaced by third-choice Stuart Taylor.

Barthez even attempted to catch the England Under-21 international off his guard with a free-kick from his own half that drifted a couple of yards wide.

Taylor seemed more assured after half-time, but it was clear that Arsenal were not in top gear. Far from it, in fact.

They briefly upped the tempo, with Pires and Pascal Cygan both threatening, but soon had to turn to the one man who could revive their fortunes.

Cue Dennis Bergkamp, a 67th-minute replacement for Wiltord. But even before he had any real chance to influence events at all, United were seemingly out of sight.

Van Nistelrooy was this time the creator, playing an astute through-ball to Scholes, who had exposed Arsenal's static defence, and rifled his shot past the exposed figure of Taylor.

Arsenal may retain the title advantage but, for the time being at least, they appeared shell-shocked, with their midfield smothered, their attack muzzled and their fans silenced.

Old Trafford, meanwhile, celebrated long and hard as last season's painful defeat was finally avenged. Crisis, what crisis?

Teams: Man Utd: Barthez, Gary Neville, Brown, Silvestre, O'Shea, Veron, Phil Neville, Scholes, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer.

Subs Not Used: Ricardo, May, Chadwick, Stewart, Forlan.

Booked: Phil Neville.

Goals: Veron 22, Scholes 73.

Arsenal: Shaaban (Taylor 43), Cole, Cygan, Keown, Luzhny, Pires (Toure 77), Silva, Vieira, Ljungberg, Henry, Wiltord (Bergkamp 68).

Subs Not Used: Lauren, van Bronckhorst.

Booked: Luzhny, Cygan.

Attendance: 67,650

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).