( CNN ) -- Robin van Persie scored the opener against his former club Arsenal as Manchester United went top of the English Premier League Saturday with a 2-1 home win over the Gunners . They replaced Chelsea who were held 1-1 by Swansea in a later kickoff . The Dutchman switched to United in the summer in a $ 39 million move and has now scored 10 goals in 13 games to underline his enduring quality . He was on the score sheet at Old Trafford after just three minutes when a Rafael cross was not cleared and the result rarely looked in doubt after his early strike . `` It was an ideal start for the Manchester United cause and it was good for Robin . I thought he was fantastic today . His movement , his penetration was fantastic , '' manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports . United should have gone further ahead just before the break when Santi Cazorla handled an Ashley Young cross to concede a penalty . But Wayne Rooney sent the spot kick wide of Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone 's right post . United continued to dominate after half time and Patrice Evra headed home the second from a Rooney cross . The Frenchman was then fouled by Jack Wilshere , who was sent off for a second yellow card . Arsenal , beaten by Norwich in the EPL last weekend before their extraordinary 7-5 League Cup win over Reading in midweek , scored a late consolation through Carzola . But they trail United by nine points early in the season . Chelsea would have returned to the top with victory at the Liberty Stadium and Victor Moses gave the Blues a 61st minute lead as he scored following Gary Cahill 's header from an Eden Hazard corner . But Swansea were worth their point as Pablo Hernandez equalized with a superb 88th-minute strike . Manchester City remained unbeaten but held to a goalless draw by West Ham in the last kick off . Kevin Nolan had the ball in the net early for the home side but his effort was ruled out for a marginal offside decision . Champions City dominated the second half possession but could not find the goal and stayed in third place , two points behind their city rivals . Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to take closer order on the top three with a dismal 1-0 home defeat to Wigan . Manager Andre Villas-Boas was jeered by the Spurs supporters who had seen their side beaten by a second half goal from Ben Watson . Everton have moved above them into fourth , but they were held 2-2 at Fulham as Steve Sidwell grabbed a late equalizer for the home side . In other games , Gabriel Agbonlahor scored the only goal as Aston Villa secured a much needed 1-0 win at Sunderland , while fellow strugglers Norwich beat Stoke 1-0 .
Robin van Persie scores as Manchester Utd beat Arsenal 2-1 . The Dutchman scored twice in the first half and added a third goal with 10 minutes to go before he was replaced by Wayne Rooney. Chelsea held 1-1 at Swansea after Pablo Hernandez equalizer . Manchester City stay unbeaten but held 0-0 at West Ham .