The Gunners continued their improvement against fellow top-six sides with another win at The Emirates, meaning they've collected 10 points out of a possible 15 against Man City, United, Chelsea, Liverpool & Tottenham at home.
The top four race now looks as though it will go down to the wire. This is the situation as it stands in the Premier League top four race:
So, how did we rate the players on a day when United created most of the chances but Arsenal got the result?
Arsenal (3-4-1-2)
Bernd Leno 7
The German produced another fine display, calm in distribution and made one fine save low down from Lukaku
Laurent Koscielny 7
The Gunners captain put his body on the line again, defending proactively and finishing the match despite carrying an injury
Sokratis 6
Picked up a booking for a careless tackle, but it was an improved and aggressive performance after his horror show against Rennes
Nacho Monreal 6
Underrated players because of his versatility, adapted well to a change in formation and was also proactive in pressing high and starving United's forwards of time on the ball
Ainsley Maitland-Niles 6
Came in for Mustafi at right back and profited from the space afforded to him by United's marauding forwards. Also used his pace to make some crucial recovery tackles in his own third
Aaron Ramsey 7
All-action display from the Welshman who covered more ground than any other player on the pitch. Also made eight tackles, the most of any player
Granit Xhaka 8
Recovered from an early error when giving United the ball in their own area. Scored with a swerving strike from 25 yards and was generally efficient in recycling possession and making tackles
Sead Kolasinac 6Much better going forward than going back, but was a constant outlet for Arsenal on the left
Mesut Ozil 6
Relatively quiet game from the German but again showed glimpses of quality and created more chances (4) than any other player
Alex Lacazette 7
Typically hard-working display from one of Arsenal's favourite sons. Also won the penalty that he then offered up to Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 7
Seemed to enjoy starting alongside Lacazette, and atoned for his recent penalty miss against Tottenham by coolly slotting the winner here
Man United (4-3-3)
David De Gea 5
Won't be happy with himself for allowing Granit Xhaka's swerving effort into the net, but aside from that he wasn't troubled often
Ashley Young 6
Relatively sturdy and reliable display from Young, but failed to get forward to positive effect as he usually does
Chris Smalling 6
Struggled with Lacazette's smart movement and
Victor Lindelof 5
Lindelof struggled at times and looked uncharacteristically nervous and jittery
Luke Shaw 7
One of United's major outlets going forward, often supplementing the attack and tucking in to good effect. Shaw has improved in leaps and bounds
Nemanja Matic 5
Was outperformed by opposite number Xhaka and was never able to control the tempo of the game, especially in the first half when Arsenal looked the better side and was booked for persistent fouling
Paul Pogba 6
It wasn't Pogba's day. One brilliant switch of play aside, it was a frustratingly quiet game for the brilliant Frenchman who also picked up a booking
Fred 7The Brazilian produced another improved display in the midfield engine room, showing enterprise with his passing and industry in his tackling and defensive work. Hit the post with a low shot that beat Leno. Gave away the penalty which is a stain on an otherwise decent performance
Diogo Dalot 6
Very useful player to have especially when United changed their formation. He provided an overlapping threat on the right. In a moment that typified the entire match: Pogba switched the play brilliantly on the counter, Lukaku took it down with a silky first touch, he found Dalot on the overlap who squared smartly for Rashford but Xhaka crunched in to block Rashford's eventual shot
Marcus Rashford 5
The youngster looked frustrated for the majority of the match, mis-hitting shots, over-cooking crosses and getting let down by heavy first touches. Not his best game
Romelu Lukaku 6
The in-form Belgian hit the post early on with a very presentable chance from a Shaw cross, and had another presentable chance in the first half after rounding the goalkeeper but Leno got low to deny him
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