Manchester United opened up a 15-point lead in the Premier League with a comfortable win over QPR on Saturday, as Santi Cazorla inspired Arsenal to a crucial win over Aston Villa as they stepped up their pursuit of fourth.Even an early injury for Robin van Persie could not disrupt Manchester United, as they moved 15 points clear at the top of the table with a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened QPR.
Harry Redknapp's side now sit seven points adrift of safety - and six points off even 19th placed Reading - after a wonderful first-time strike from Rafael and composed finish from Ryan Giggs decided the game at Loftus Road.
Van Persie, meanwhile, was substituted shortly after an awkward collision with some pitchside cameras in the build-up to Rafael's opener - with the Dutchman appearing to complain about his hip as he walked down the tunnel. Rafael's goal was a wonderful finish worthy of beating Julio Cesar - who once again prevented the scoreline from reaching a higher number for the outmuscled west Londoners. The full-back rushed onto the ball around 25 yards out, meeting it with a sweet first-time effort that rocketed right into the top corner.
United continued to test Cesar but it was not until late in the second half that they killed matters off. In the end it was the guile of Giggs that got the job done, the Welshman taking Welbeck's slipped pass before slotting a low shot under Cesar.
Elsewhere, Arsenal pulled within a point of arch-rivals Tottenham - for a short while, at least - in the race for fourth, as Santi Cazorla completed a brace late on to down luckless Aston Villa 2-1. The Spaniard combined with former Malaga team-mate Nacho Monreal to beat Brad Guzan for the second time in the afternoon with just five minutes remaining, giving Gunners fans - not to mention manager Arsene Wenger - some respite after a difficult week.
Cazorla had also opened the scoring after five minutes with a driven right-footed shot across the goalkeeper, but Andreas Weimann - converting from a Charles N'Zogbia header after another mistake from Wojciech Szczesny - had briefly given Paul Lambert's side hope of a surprise point when he found the net with 20 minutes still to play. Instead, however, the Villans slipped back into the relegation zone on goal difference.
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