Premier league Leaders Manchester City piled the pressure on Manchester United with a 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday to move five points clear of their neighbours.
With United away to third-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, City stretched their lead through a 2-0 home defeat of Bolton Wanderers. Gael Clichy and Mario Balotelli scored in each half.
Van Persie's stoppage time winner, his 31st goal of the season, put Arsenal three points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea who were beaten at the Hawthorns by a late Gareth McAuley goal.
It was a poor day for the bottom three.
Wigan Athletic went down 2-0 at home to Swansea City, Bolton lost at City but Blackburn Rovers salvaged a point with a 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa.
Queen's Park Rangers moved up a place to 16th, level on points with Blackburn, after a 1-1 draw at home to Everton.
Stoke City swapped places with Norwich City in eighth place with a 1-0 home victory over The Canaries.
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