Who said it was all over? Not Arsenal, and after this the Premiership could be ending up in North London after all.

The Gunners had not triumphed in the Theatre of Dreams since the 1990 "Battle of Old Trafford" - the season which ended in George Graham's side being crowned as kings of the championship castle.

But now Arsene Wenger must begin to believe the glittering prize in within his grasp after the most deserved of triumphs over a United side who have lost their way.

Marc Overmars was the agent of United's destruction, the flying Dutchman ghosting through to plant his 11th of the season past Peter Schmeichel 11 minutes from time.

Yet nobody at Old Trafford could really begrudge Arsenal their victory after a match which they had dominated from the start, showing real quality, real belief, United out-thought and out-fought.

Only poor finishing had kept United in it as Alex Ferguson's side were a pale shadow of the side who had seemed on course to romp home just weeks ago.

But with time running out, Dennis Bergkamp and substitute Nicolas Anelka linked up to put Overmars into the box with United caught square.

Overmars had missed three great chances before hand, but not this time, drilling low past into the net to clinch the points and leave Wenger's men six points behind with three games in hand, their destiny in their own hands.

United have now lost seven Premiership games - one more than Ferguson's "maximum" - and as Arsenal celebrated their triumph, Ferguson's fears increased, Phil Neville damaging a hamstring and Peter Schmeichel hobbling off with a knee problem sustained augmenting the attack.

And make no mistake, Arsenal deserved it. Before the game the usual cocksureness of the United fans was missing, a slight sense of foreboding floating around Old Trafford.

The absence of Nicky Butt contributed to that, and without the England man Ferguson drafted in John Curtis at right back, shoved Gary Neville into the centre and put Ronny Johnsen in midfield.

But what United clearly lacked was width and with Arsenal typically rugged, resilient and resourceful, that looked to be a crucial factor.

When the home side did push forward they foundered on the defensive rocks of Tony Adams and Martin Keown, while the Gunners were everything the champions were not.

Simple balls over the top, looking to exploit the pace of Overmars and Christopher Wreh, unhinged United with worrying ease, watching Monaco coach Jean Tigana justified in a quiet smile of anticipation.

While Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira were quietly effective, blocking the holes and throttling David Beckham and Paul Scholes' creative impulses, Ray Parlour's work down the right emphasised what United were lacking.

Although it was down the other flank that Arsenal came closest, Curtis' inexperience exposed by Overmars.

In the 14th minute an exchange of passes with fellow Dutchman Bergkamp sent the winger away clear, Overmars nipping the ball beyond Schmeichel but taken too wide and drifting his effort from an acute angle across the face of goal.

It was a warning shot, but one not heeded by the home side, Overmars, given too much space, testing Schmeichel from 25 yards.

United, with Phil Neville looking like a converted full-back on the left, were getting nowhere, yet might have been gifted the lead when Lee Dixon unaccountably passed across goal straight to Andy Cole.

Adams moved across to block, but only for the ball to fall perfectly to Sheringham, who knew he should have done better than drive at the quick-rushing Alex Manninger.

Within a minute Bergkamp's super ball inside Curtis for Overmars should have brought a penalty as the England under-21 man mistimed his tackle, Arsenal furious at Alan Wilkie's shake of the head.

But still the Gunners were in charge, and Wenger must have wondered how they failed to go in ahead.

Wreh's flick to Parlour was fed on to Overmars, who sped between Curtis and Gary Neville to poke past Schmeichel but into the side-netting, and then Parlour ghosted on to Bergkamp's header but again failed to hit the target.

The misses might have been costly if Cole, released by Schmeichel's long throw with Arsenal expecting a flag, had not struck at Manninger, but still the visitors were on top.

And the half ended with a move that summed them up. Adams ended a United attack and five passes later Wreh, fed on the right by Parlour, pulled back for Petit's first-timer to fly a fraction over the top with Schmeichel a spectator.

Ferguson acted at the break, sending Phil Neville to right-back with Curtis swapping to the left, but only for the seven minutes before Ben Thornley entered the fray, and at least United, now with a natural left-sider, had more conviction.

No more penetration though, Manninger superbly protected as Arsenal held with relative ease, still probing for the chance themselves.

It came - and went - in the 62nd minute, Vieira caressing a dinked lob over the top for Overmars, who momentarily lost the ball as it dropped 12 yards out before touching over Schmeichel but wide of the gaping target.

Wreh made way for Anelka with 24 minutes left, although it needed an outstanding tackle by Keown to prevent Cole finding Sheringham in front of goal.

Wenger clearly felt the extra pace of his young protege might be the key, and Anelka had, after all, scored the opener in the November win at Highbury.

United seemed, at last, to be putting it together. Adams robbed Cole in the act of shooting, Thornley's effort when the ball fell to him not far wide, and when Remi Garde replaced Parlour, Wenger seemed to be settling for a draw.

Not so. Anelka showed what might be when rifling a drive over the top and then Garde sprinted down the right to thud one at Schmeichel from Overmars' pass.

Phil Neville went off feeling his hamstring with 15 minutes left, Johnsen briefly reverting to defence as Ole Solksjaer came on before David May replaced him.

And perhaps that was the crucial error. May had not touched the ball when Bergkamp's touch found Anelka, whose overhead pass sent Overmars into the box.

This time, at last, Overmars was decisive and clinical, the finish brooking no argument.

Anelka, racing past Dennis Irwin, could have finished it off five minutes later, Schmeichel saving with his legs before joining the frantic late siege.

But the Dane only succeeded in damaging his knee trying to chase back from the Arsenal, and even a pitch protest - ended by Nigel Winterburn grabbing the miscreant - did not unhinge the visitors.

This time United could not rescue themselves. The title race is alive again and Ferguson's Champions' League worries are massive. All changed, changed utterly.

Teams:

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen (May 79), Beckham, Cole, Sheringham, P. Neville (Solskjaer 77), Scholes, Berg, Curtis (Thornley 52).

Subs Not Used: McClair, Van Der Gouw.

Booked: G. Neville, Sheringham.

Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Adams, Bergkamp, Overmars, Wreh (Anelka 66), Keown, Parlour (Garde 70), Petit.

Subs Not Used: Grimandi, Lukic, Hughes.

Booked: Anelka, Adams, Dixon.

Goals: Overmars 79.

Att: 55,174