Manchester United moved back top of the English Premier League on Sunday after a 1-0 win at West Ham United thanks to Ryan Giggs' stunning solo goal.
The 35-year-old jinked past two defenders before grabbing the only goal of a tight game on 62 minutes as United kept a 13th straight clean sheet in the league.
The victory lifted the reigning champions two points clear of Liverpool, who briefly took the top spot after beating Portsmouth 3-2 on Saturday. Liverpool now has 54 points from 25 games, having played one more game than United.
A goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur left Arsenal a far fifth on 44 points but Arsene Wenger's side earned points playing with 10 men for nearly an hour after Emmanuel Eboue's dismissal.
Eboue, having earlier been meaninglessly booked for protesting, was sent off by referee Mike Dean on 37 minutes for a sneaky kick at Luca Modric.
Wenger was incensed but with Dean's decision of deny his side a goal, which Eboue thought he had scored in the 13th minute.
The goal was disallowed because Dean had already blown for a foul on Jonathan Woodgate but Wenger called it "not acceptable".
"The goal we scored is completely normal and I think it was two points dropped," he said, "The goal was cancelled because the referee saw an illusionary foul."
"In fact it was Woodgate who stumbled over (Emmanuel) Adebayor and fell down. It is not acceptable."
The stalemate did neither side good with Spurs seeking to escape the danger zone and the Gunners trying to force their way into the top four.
Robbie Keane drew a blank on his return to White Hart Lane despite a busy debut, flashing a header just over and shooting narrowly wide in the second half.
In the opposite lineup, Emmanuel Adebayor had to limp off after a hamstring injury and Russia star Andrey Arshavin was left an unused substitute on his first day in Gunners' uniform.
One goal was enough for United to accumulate the advantages for a hopeful hat-trick of league titles although West Ham matched the title favourites for long periods.
England new boy Carlton Cole had the hosts' best chance in the first half as his attempted chip was plucked out of the air by Vander Sar after he had been sent clear.
United, not at their best, were struggling to create chances until a moment of magic from skipper Giggs secured the victory built on solid defence.
Paul Scholes swept a fine ball out to the left flank and Giggs cut inside before curling a right-footed shot beyond keeper Robert Green.
(Xinhua News Agency Feburary 9, 2009)
