Statistics & Post-Match Quotes | Arsenal FC 1-2 Manchester United

TEAM STATISTICS

* Anders Lindegaard (goalkeeper): 20/39 passing (51%), 1 goal conceded, 2 saves

* Chris Smalling (right-center-back): 23/28 passing (82%), 3/4 long balls, 0 tackles, 1 interception, 11 clearances, 1 shot blocked, 1 foul, 10/16 aerial duels (63%)

* Jonny Evans (left-center-back): 37/43 passing (86%), 7/8 long balls (88%), 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 7 clearances, 1 shot blocked, 0 fouls, 7/8 aerial duels (86%)

* Phil Jones (right-back | substituted off 17'): 7/8 passing (86%), 0 key passes, 0/0 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots blocked, 0 fouls, 0 clearances, 0/0 aerial duels

* Patrice Evra (left-back): 52/69 passing (75%), 1 key pass, 0/3 crosses, 2/5 long balls, 4 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 clearances, 1 shot blocked, 1 foul, 5/6 aerial duels (83%)

* Michael Carrick (central-midfield): 50/55 passing (91%), 1 key pass, 0/0 crosses, 7/8 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 6 tackles, 1 interception, 0 shots

* Ryan Giggs (central-midfield): 41/61 passing (67%), 1 key pass, 1/6 crosses, 2/7 long balls, 1/1 through balls, 1 successful dribble, 1 tackle, 3 interceptions, 1 shot (1 on target), 1 assist

* Antonio Valencia (right-winger): 24/28 passing (86%), 3 key passes, 1/4 crosses, 0/0 long ball, 0/0 through ball, 2 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 2 shots (1 on target), 1 goal, 1 assist

* Nani (left-winger | substituted off 75'): 41/54 passing (76%), 1 key pass, 1/11 crosses, 2/2 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 6 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 3 tackles, 0 interceptions, 2 shots (1 on target)

* Wayne Rooney (striker): 41/57 passing (72%), 0 key passes, 0/1 crosses, 5/7 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 2 successful dribbles, 4 fouls won, 0 shots

* Danny Welbeck (striker): 14/18 passing (78%), 0 key passes, 0/0 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 4 shots (3 on target), 1 goal

* Rafael (right-back | substituted on 17' | substituted off 77'): 19/24 passing (79%), 0 key passes, 0/0 crosses, 0/1 long balls, 6 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 clearances, 5/5 aerial duels (100%)

* Paul Scholes (central-midfield | substituted on 75'): 10/12 passing (83%), 0 key passes, 0/0 crosses, 1/2 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 tackles, 1 interception, 0 shots

* Park Ji-sung (left-winger | substituted on 77'): 4/5 passing (80%), 0 key passes, 0/0 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Sir Alex Ferguson | MUFC manager (courtesy of MUTV)

(Overall thoughts on the match...) "It was important to win after City had won their game, but the manner in which we won was the more pleasing thing for me. I think we won in the right way - we played really adventurous football, we were positive and had great belief in ourselves. I'm delighted to see that at this important time in the season. Arsenal came out fighting in the second half and for the first 15 minutes we rode our luck a bit. But on the counter-attack we were devastating and we could have scored a lot of goals."

(More thoughts on the title race...) "I said before the game that we had four massive away games [Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and City] to come and that's one out the way. What we need to do is stay on City's coat-tails. Football is a funny game. The game at City today tells you things can happen and there will be changes [before the end of the season]. We've just got to stay on their coat-tails."

(On Danny Welbeck's performance....) "Danny was fantastic. His work-rate and movement are great - he's always on the shoulder of defenders and ready to run through [on goal]. He could have scored five today - he was through three or four times. He was unlucky in that sense, but he's got the important goal and continued his run of scoring in the first team. For a 21-year-old he's doing really well."

(On the injuries sustained during the match...) "It's not good news for us. I think Jones will be out for a few weeks - it's ankle ligaments. Carrick was feeling his hamstring in the second half and he just had to sit in the middle of the pitch."

(On Rafael being both substituted on and off...) "Rafa wasn't very pleased and I can understand that. He's so brave and determined to win the ball but he'd already been booked and I thought with the crowd getting up and if he made another half-bad challenge he might be in trouble. Mike Dean has sent him off before and I just thought it was best to get an experienced player like Valencia back in there [at right-back] and bring on the experience of Park and Scholes to try and see the game out."

Danny Welbeck | MUFC striker (courtesty of MUTV)

(Overall thoughts on the result and on his side's performance...) "I’m over the moon, but the team worked tirelessly all the way through the game. It was a great team effort and I think we’re all just delighted to get the three points. We worked really hard. A few people were cramping up towards the end – I was one of the victims – but we worked really hard and it was a great team performance overall. We had a few chances. We played the ball accurately and made lots of precise passes to get in behind their defence and I think we did really well."

(On being first-choice at the moment and on his partnership with Rooney...) "My aim to come and play for United’s first team and luckily I’m doing that at the moment. To get a starting berth up top with Wazza in behind me, we’re forming a great partnership and I’m just looking forward to carrying that on."

(On watching Manchester City's result versus Spurs prior to United's match...) "It was on in the changing room but we couldn’t let it affect us or the way we played – we just played our normal game. We just went out there, passed the ball well and thankfully got the two goals and they got just the one. Credit to them, they’re a good team and they know how to play football and try and get a goal themselves. They pulled one back but thankfully we got the winner later on."

Patrice Evra | MUFC defender (courtesy of Sky Sports)

(On the title race and on his side's performance...) "We are still behind City but we have to keep winning games. I am really confident in team, everybody is working hard and when we play with the Man United spirit, it is difficult to beat us. It was a good performance, we want everything perfect and in the second half there were 15 minutes when Arsenal played very well. We kept strong, had a good shape and scored a nice goal. We got the three points and that is really important if you want to win the title."