Arsenal seized the title race gauntlet thrown down by Manchester United, but only after Wayne Rooney had stretched their under-strength defence to the limit at Highbury.

Indeed, that the Gunners managed to regain their Barclaycard Premiership lead despite a thrilling display by Rooney was testament to their reserves of mental strength in the wake of back-to-back defeats.

For if Sven-Goran Eriksson needed confirmation that Rooney is ready for full international duty, albeit in a cameo role, this was surely it.

The 17-year-old striker, who had announced his rich potential with the winner at home to Arsenal earlier this season, produced firm confirmation at Highbury that his reputation as England's most exciting young talent is richly deserved.

In only his seventh Premiership start, he scored his sixth senior goal and otherwise tormented Arsenal's defence as Eriksson watched from the main stand.

But even though Rooney managed to equalise Pascal Cygan's first goal for Arsenal just after half-time, Patrick Vieira still quickly responded by firing the home side back ahead.

Even without David Seaman, Ashley Cole and Martin Keown, while Sol Campbell was not fully fit, the Gunners still managed to hold on and therefore climbed back above United to the Premiership summit.

Just as importantly, they brought to an end a damaging four-game run without a win, in which they had been overtaken at the top of the table, knocked out of the Champions League and taken to an FA Cup quarter-final replay.

This was potentially a pivotal moment in their campaign, and they certainly got off to a perfect start, courtesy of one of the most unlikely sources of all.

Centre-back Cygan, who has featured in all eight of Arsenal's defeats this season outside the Worthington Cup, has been highlighted as the weakest link in their defence over recent months.

However, amid a committed all-round first-half display, the Frenchman made a positive impression by heading home Thierry Henry's corner with just eight minutes gone.

Thereafter, Arsenal only threatened intermittently on the break and even then not convincingly, with Everton quickly hauling players back in numbers to frustrate the home side.

Dennis Bergkamp inspired one opening with a mesmerising flick past Alan Stubbs, with Richard Wright parrying the Dutchman's shot and just managing to recover in time to deny Henry's follow-up effort.

However, Bergkamp's partnership with Henry was otherwise misfiring, with the Frenchman twice denied by former team-mate Wright as Arsenal's ability to finish sides off continued to elude them.

In fact, the danger was that they could see another lead slip away as they allowed a succession of crosses to flash across the face of their goal, most notably one from Rooney after a neat turn.

That, however, was just a sign of things to come. For the first 15 minutes of the second-half were undoubtedly the 'Rooney Show'.

Firstly, the teenager earned the wrath of the home fans for tumbling to the ground after a tackle by Lauren, and then he worried them rigid with a neat cutback which Campbell struck into the side-netting.

Arsenal failed to heed the warning as the young striker tormented Cygan before picking his spot just inside the far post from 25 yards out on 56 minutes to put Everton level.

He even came close to scoring again with a half-volley, but Arsene Wenger's side came out fighting.

After Bergkamp and Fredrik Ljungberg had created an opening by sheer spirit as much as physical presence, Vieira pounced to power the ball home from close range on 64 minutes.

With Rooney moving to the right flank, Arsenal had to survive the aerial threat of Duncan Ferguson in the final stages, with four minutes of added time.

But with Ray Parlour and Kolo Toure both on to stiffen their resolve, the Gunners just managed to hold on, with Ljungberg actually squandering a chance to move further ahead.

It was not exactly pretty, but this was all about the result as Wenger's side proved their determination not to relinquish their domestic Double without a fight.

There is little time for any respite though.

Next stop Stamford Bridge and an FA Cup quarter-final replay - with just 48 hours' recovery time.

Teams:

Arsenal: Taylor, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, van Bronckhorst, Ljungberg, Silva, Vieira, Pires (Parlour 68), Bergkamp (Toure 86), Henry.

Subs Not Used: Jeffers, Wiltord, Warmuz.

Booked: Lauren, Henry.

Goals: Cygan 8, Vieira 64.

Everton: Wright, Yobo, Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Watson (Ferguson 79), Pembridge, Li Tie (Gemmill 73), Gravesen, Rooney, Campbell.

Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Naysmith, Carsley.

Booked: Li Tie.

Goals: Rooney 56.

Att: 38,042

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).