PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS: United prove too strong for Arsenal

 MANCHESTER United kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea with a thumping 3-1 away win at Arsenal.

TOP STUFF: Manchester United's Nani is congratulated after scoring his side's opener against Arsenal at the Emirates (Getty Images)

Sir Alex Ferguson's side broke the deadlock in style with two sensational strikes in four first half minutes.

First,Nani raced down the right wing, leaving a trail of flat-footed Arsenal defenders in his wake.

Denilson was dazzled by his fleet-footed dummy and Manuel Almunia could only tip a brilliantly lofted shot into his own net.

But even better was to follow.

Wayne Rooney and Nani exchanged passes as they raced forward at a fast retreating Arsenal defence, the latter teeing up the former, who fired an unstoppable shot past a shell-shocked Almunia for his 100th Premier League goal.

Arsene Wenger trudged off at half-time clearly seething and was even more furious at the manner his team conceded their third goal in the 52nd minute.

Ji-Sung Park raced more than half the pitch without an Arsenal player attempting a tackle - with Gael Clichy in particular ruthlessly exposed.

He then cooly beat Almunia with a classy finish.

It was a goal that silenced the Emirates until Arsenal reduced the deficit in the 79th minute, Thomas Vermaelen's volley taking a wicked deflection off Jonny Evans to leave Edwin van der Sar with no chance.

Manchester City bounced back from their disappointment in Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final to maintain their Champions League aspirations.

In a battle between the Premier League's haves and have nots, Roberto Mancini's side were good value for their 2-0 win over cash-strapped Portsmouth.

The win eased them above Aston Villa into sixth, equal on points with fifth-placed Liverpool and just one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Emmanuel Adebayor, starting his first match since he was caught in the gun attack on the Togo team bus during the African Nations Cup, steered the hosts ahead in the 39th minute, unleashing a 20-yard strike past David James.

Vincent Kompany doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time with a powerful header from Martin Petrov's corner while Carlos Tevez hit the post in the 80th minute.

However, Mancini insisted it was far from a vintage display.

"We were a little tired after Wednesday's match against Manchester United," he said.

"In the first half we did not play well, we did not move the ball quickly and were too slow when we lost possession.

"The clean sheet is important, but it was more important that we won. It's a good situation, we have 41 points and have two games in hand."

Mancini also revealed members of his squad had worn ‘Team Bridge' t-shirts in support of defender Wayne Bridge, following two days of lurid headlines about the involvement of his ex-girlfriend in a love triangle with married England captain John Terry.

"The players are very close to Wayne," he added. "He is a fantastic player and a good guy. It was a nice gesture."