The Gunners triumphed 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday thanks to a goal in each half from Samir Nasri. Young Brazilian full-back Rafael reduced the arrears with a superb late strike but Arsenal held on to move two points above United in the Barclays Premier League table.

"I feel it was a very important result because I imagine what would have happened if we had lost," said Wenger. "Mathematically it was very important for us to stay close to the top and to show what kind of determination, spirit and mental attitude we have. We went out there thinking that we will win no matter what happens. No matter what happens on the pitch we will keep going and that is what we did.

"We won against, for me, a great Man United side and the difference was maybe we took our chances early on and they didn't. After we scored the second we did hang on but tried to score the third goal on the counter attack. We wouldn't do that and that is why the game remained very tight until the end."

never questioned

Wenger was asked if he ever doubted his players' spirit after recent set-backs against Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City and stressed that he is 100 per cent behind his charges.

"I didn't doubt the spirit of my players," he continued. "I acknowledged that we made some mistakes, especially against Tottenham, but I never questioned the spirit, quality or ability to play for the championship.

"There is only one thing in our job and that is to go on the pitch and show how much you want it, show quality on the pitch - and spirit - and that is what we did. I believe above all today it was a fantastic football game because both teams played with the right spirit."

Wenger also had words of praise for Nasri. The young Frenchman produced a fine display on the left-hand side and continues to draw comparisons with fellow countryman Robert Pires who was a fans' favourite in his time with the Gunners.

"When Nasri is in front of goal he can finish with his right foot or left foot," added Wenger. "He has a lot of pace and power and I encourage him to go in the final third. He was a more typical playmaker in France who gave the ball and took it back. I believe that with his pace he can penetrate in the final third and he will score plenty of goals. That is what he did today because he is a tremendous finisher."

playground stuff

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson felt that the two sides had produced the most entertaining match of the season. However, he was left to rue missed opportunities, with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo guilty of passing up clear-cut chances.

"The chances we had in the game were incredible," he said. "It was the area in which we let ourselves down. I think if we'd got one when Ronaldo got his great chance, then we'd have got something out of the game.

"It was fantasy football, it was like playground stuff - you attack, we attack - and they got the goals that mattered. In fairness to my own team, after the second goal their determination and drive to try and rescue the game was fantastic, and we probably deserved something from the game, I think.

"Some of the football out there today from both teams was magnificent. I don't think you'll see a game as good as that anywhere else in the country.

"Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say 'if you're going to get beaten, just make sure it's someone who's going to play football', and Arsenal played good football at times. Not as dangerous as us in attacking play, but they got the goals that mattered."