Manchester United all but sealed a 20th English title as it moved into an eight-point lead over Manchester City at the top of Premier League on Sunday with just six games left to play.
United beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Old Trafford to pile the pressure on City ahead of their match away to Arsenal later in the day. But City was unable to respond, with Mikel Arteta's goal three minutes from time which not only secured a 1-0 victory for the Gunners but also saw it leapfrog north London rival Tottenham Hotspur into third place in the table.
City's misery was compounded when temperamental striker Mario Balotelli was sent-off a minute before full-time.
Before kick-off, City manager Roberto Mancini said City had to win if it was to have a chance of being crowned champion of England for the first time since 1968.
At Old Trafford, goals from Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes saw United — which is now two goals better off on goal difference than City — to victory.
Controversial penalty
England striker Rooney gave United a 15th minute lead from the penalty spot after QPR captain Shaun Derry was controversially sent off for bringing down Ashley Young inside the area, with referee Lee Mason ruling he'd denied a clear goal-scoring chance.
Mason's decision was harsh on Rangers, which is still above the relegation zone on goal difference. Derry's contact appeared minimal and Young looked to be offside.
Even though QPR keeper Paddy Kenny correctly dived to his right, Rooney's well-struck penalty gave him his 30th goal of the season and left the visitor, managed by former United striker Mark Hughes, with a mountain to climb.
Kenny kept QPR in the game until the 68th minute when he was beaten by a 20-yard shot from veteran midfielder Scholes, recalled from retirement this season by Ferguson. Hughes confirmed QPR would appeal Derry's red card in a bid to have him available for Wednesday's match.
The results: Arsenal 1 (Arteta 87) bt Manchester City 0; Manchester United 2 (Rooney 15-pen, Scholes 68) bt QPR 0.
