Manchester United leapfrogged Arsenal to take over the EPL’s top spot, thanks to Ji-Sung-Park’s acrobatic header shortly before half-time in a bitty, occasionally bruising encounter.

Park’s header ended a first half of few chances and even fewer instances of flowing football.

And while Arsenal improved after half-time, they were grateful to young goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and a shocking Wayne Rooney penalty miss for avoiding a convincing defeat.

Nani’s well-struck snapshot inches wide of Szczesny’s right-hand post on 22 minutes was the closest either side came to a goal before the deadlock was finally broken on 41 minutes.

The unfortunate Gael Clichy blocked Nani’s left-footed cross from the right but the ball bounced up into Park’s path and the midfielder twisted his body athletically to loop a header over Szczesny into the top corner of the net.

Clichy was unfortunate again to be flagged by the referee’s assistant for an unintentional handball in the penalty-area on 72 minutes. But justice was served when Rooney sent Szczesny flying the wrong way from the spot but sent the ball flying over the bar.

Szczesny saved brilliantly from Rooney’s chip late on. But substitute Theo Walcott fired Arsenal’s one late chance over the bar.