Arsene Wenger got the response he wanted as Arsenal bounced back from a poor run of form to defeat Manchester United thanks to two goals from Samir Nasri.

Gunners manager Wenger admitted dressing-room morale was low after their 4-4 draw with rivals Tottenham Hotspur and the defeat at Stoke City - but this win at the at the Emirates Stadium breathes life into their campaign and lifts them above United in the Barclays Premier League.

Wenger had Emmanuel Adebayor injured and Robin van Persie suspended but Nasri provided the attacking threat, taking advantage of slack marking in each half to grab his fourth and fifth goals of the season.

Rafael da Silva, on as a substitute, volleyed home a late strike to give Sir Alex Ferguson's men hope - but there was no repeat of the memorable Spurs comeback.

It was Arsenal's first test this season against their traditional top-four rivals - and Wenger's men passed with flying colours.

This encounter between two heavyweights had everything - chances, yellow cards, counter-attacking and also four penalty shouts.

There was absorbing end-to-end football, with United given an early opportunity following a mix-up involving one of their former players.

Mikael Silvestre clipped a backpass to Manuel Almunia and the goalkeeper picked up the ball. Anderson's free-kick was blocked by team-mate Ji-Sung Park, then Michael Carrick fired the rebound wide from the edge of the area.

Berbatov also had the ball in the net but was ruled offside when he followed up Rooney's shot.

Then it was Arsenal's turn to attack. Nicklas Bendtner headed over from Clichy's cross, before the striker was millimetres away from contact when Nasri swung a ball over.

Abou Diaby had a clear sight of goal when Edwin van der Sar flapped, but his effort was blocked by Carrick.

United took their turn to apply pressure, with Cristiano Ronaldo raiding down the flanks and Carrick creating his angles in midfield.

Wayne Rooney was guilty of wasting their clearest opportunity of the opening period when he flashed a shot over after Ronaldo's intelligent pull-back.

First blood went to Arsenal, with Nasri's opener coming midway through the first half after Patrice Evra fouled Bacary Sagna on the right touchline.

Berbatov headed away the free-kick as far as Nasri, who fizzed a volley at goal that took a deflection off Gary Neville to wrong-foot Van der Sar and fly in.

United almost replied when Clichy only just headed wide of his own goal as he tried to clear a free-kick.

Arsenal, meanwhile, tried to counter-attack and Cesc Fabregas shot just wide of the post with one effort, while Van der Sar stuck out a hand to stop Silvestre stabbing home from a corner.

Nasri's second came three minutes after the restart.

Fabregas wriggled around Neville and spotted Nasri unmarked on the penalty area, with the France youngster given enough space to bide his time and lash past Van der Sar.

Ronaldo was presented with a chance to pull a goal back but his finish, after meeting Park's cross with a first-time volley, went just the wrong side of Almunia's post.

Rooney had a header saved by Almunia and he was inches from getting on the end of a Ronaldo cross.

Rafael, on as a substitute, pulled one back with less than a minute left - but Arsenal held on after six minutes of stoppage-time for the win they needed.