We were all hoping for a thriller, the kind Chelsea and Tottenham produced at White Hart Lane on Sunday. It didn't happen, but Sir Alex Ferguson won't mind one bit after his Manchester United topped Arsenal 1-0. United leapfrogged the Gunners, taking a two-point lead atop the Premier League standings -- with a game in hand.

Here are five things we learned from Monday's match at Old Trafford.

1. Park is a keeper

Is Park Ji-Sung the flashiest player around? No. Is the South Korean one of the most valuable to United? Yes, easily.

Park proved it again, scoring the only goal with a header that would have made striker Javier Hernandez proud. But Park did so much more. He also helped the combative midfield duo of Anderson and Darren Fletcher keep the surging Samir Nasri quiet. Park's work rate, as usual, was phenomenal.

As Ferguson said after the game, losing Park during the Asian Cup will be a blow.

2. Evra backed up his bravado

United left-back Patrice Evra obviously didn't care if he gave Arsenal more motivation pre-match -- he told the press that the Gunners were in "crisis" and labeled them a side that knows how to play pretty soccer without actually winning trophies. (He's not far off, is he?)

Evra put in a great showing, along with the rest of the back four of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Rafael. Vidic came up trumps on Arsenal's only decent chance, blocking Marouane Chamakh's effort off a rebound. Rafael, who has struggled this season, was largely untroubled.

Now if Ferguson could only get Wayne Rooney scoring. Only Rooney knows what his pre-penalty run up was all about, before he sent the ball into orbit.

3. Arsene can't stop making excuses

Arsene Wenger is a great manager, transforming the fortunes of Arsenal. However, he's still a sore loser. Wenger blamed the Old Trafford pitch for Arsenal's woeful display. Someone should tell Wenger the pitch was the same for both teams. It didn't prevent United from creating four good chances.

Arsenal just can't beat Chelsea and United. You do the math: The Gunners have now earned 1 point in 33 available against Chelsea and United in past 11 games in all competitions.

However, Arsenal is still alive in the Carling Cup, with a great draw no less. The Gunners can't mess that up, or can they?

4. Wenger got it wrong

As much as Nasri was neutralized, Wenger didn't do his countryman any favors by starting him on the wing. Yes, he usually plays there, but in the absence of Cesc Fabregas, Nasri needed to be in the middle of the park to be more influential. Stick Theo Walcott on the wing and relegate Tomas Rosicky to the bench. The Czech was his usual self -- as in, he didn't do much. Rosicky hasn't been the same since returning from a serious knee injury.

5. There's promise between the posts

What were Arsenal fans thinking when they discovered 20-year-old Wojciech Szczesny would be making his debut in goal on Monday? Bring back Lukasz Fabianski? Maybe.

Fabianski, for the record, was injured. Wenger has raved about Szczesny, and while it was only one game, the 6-foot-5 keeper impressed. He used his frame to thwart Rooney's ambitious chip and made himself big -- a la United legend Peter Schmeichel -- to stop Anderson. What does Wenger do next week, when Stoke's long balls enter the box? Go back to Fabianski, or stick with Szczesny?