Ferdinand - United deserved win

Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand insists his side were good value for their hard-fought 1-0 win over title rivals Arsenal.

Park Ji-sung's first-half header sent United two points clear at the Premier League summit.

The South Korean's effort was enough to secure victory over Arsenal despite Wayne Rooney wasting a golden chance to ease home nerves when he ballooned a penalty over 17 minutes from time.

Ferdinand told Sky Sports 1: "In these games sometimes you don't play well but you've got to go out and play as well as you can. We got the three points and that's the main thing.

"Three points is three points."

Ferdinand added: "Arsenal test you in different ways, they are a very talented side with great players. But I thought today we contained them very well and we had the best chances.

"We missed a penalty, unfortunately, Nani had a great chance in a one-on-one so I'd say we probably shaded it."

Left-back Patrice Evra added: "We just play our football. I think we're powerful and we showed that tonight, I'm very pleased. Everybody is very focused and working hard, and that's why we got the result we deserved."

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson praised his team's performance but admitted the missed penalty could have been costly.

"We had to play well, in these major games you want to perform and I think we did tonight, particularly in the first half we did very, very well," he told Sky Sports 1.

"It was an unusual penalty, normally Wayne always keeps them down, I've never known him to hit one over. That gave Arsenal a bit of impetus but we defended very well, the back four were fantastic tonight, absolutely magnificent."

As for the match-winner Park, the Scot said: "Park's record against Arsenal is very good, he is in fantastic form, the lad.

"Unfortunately we're going to lose him to the Asia Cup for seven matches, which is disappointing."

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal could have taken something from the game. "I believe yes, because we gave everything," he said. "The game was very intense, both teams were well-organised, the intensity of the game was very high and on a very bad pitch.

"Overall the technical quality of the game suffered from a very bad pitch and that was why on both sides you've seen unusual technical mistakes."

Wenger added: "I don't think we failed to deliver; we lost a game and that can happen here."