To everyone's surprise, Manchester United, which Gunners boss Arsene Wenger described as "nervous" and "insecure," was able to triumph against Arsenal on Sunday.

Wayne Rooney took the corner-kick that found the roaming Robin van Persie, who perfectly placed the ball at the right top-corner with a beautiful header from the left side of the six-yard box.

"It's disappointing to lose the game the way we lost it," Wenger told arsenal.com.

"I felt that we were a bit nervous at the start of the game and didn't play our game against a team of Manchester who was nervous, a bit insecure and we gave them a little bit of comfort by making the mistake at the first set-piece - or the second."

As expected, the Gunners dominated possession, keeping the ball at 60 per cent, but were not able to convert on opportunities created, especially during the second-half.

"We had the opportunities but we missed always a few inches to push the ball in the net and they were well focused to defend and defend and then try to catch us on the break - that happened once or twice in the game," he added.

After dropping three points, the North London club still remains at the summit, 2 points clear of second-place Liverpool, with 25 points.

"Overall it's disappointing to lose the game like that because I think we had the opportunity at least to get a draw out of this game."

The level of competition in the English Premier League has gone up notches higher this season wherein fans and pundits alike are confronted with a sense of unpredictability insofar as outcome of games are concerned.

"What we have learnt again today is that not only that Man United could beat Arsenal but everybody can beat everybody in this Premier League. Sunderland beat Man City and that shows you how much excitement you will have until the end of the season," he commented.