Goals from Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earned the Gunners a victory that sent them into the Champions League places while pushing United back down to fifth.

It was United's first league defeat since December 16 and ended Solskjaer's remarkable unbeaten start in the league as United's manager.

Arsenal went ahead in the 13th minute when Xhaka belted a swerving shot from 30 metres out, with United keeper David de Gea seemingly wrong-footed by the curve of the ball.

United hit the woodwork either side of the goal, with Romelu Lukaku heading against the crossbar first and Fred striking the post minutes later.

Lukaku had a golden opportunity to score from close range early in the second half but his first touch was heavy and, as he lunged to shoot, goalkeeper Bernd Leno blocked the shot with his body to send the ball spinning up and over the bar.

Arsenal won a very soft-looking penalty in the 67th minute when Fred was judged to have brought down Alexandre Lacazette, with the replay showing that the Brazilian barely brushed the Frenchman's side as they ran for the ball.

Aubameyang then converted the penalty, making up for his missed spot kick at Tottenham Hotspur a week earlier.

The win lifted Arsenal to 60 points, just one point behind their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are third, and two points above United who slipped to fifth.

Earlier on Sunday, second-placed Liverpool beat Burnley 4-2 to keep up the pressure on leaders Manchester City.

Two goals each for Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane helped Juergen Klopp's side move to 73 points, one behind City, who beat Watford 3-1 on Saturday. Both teams have eight games remaining.

The visitors took a surprise lead in the sixth minute, with Ashley Westwood scoring direct from a corner.

Liverpool drew level when James Tarkowski and Clarets keeper Tom Heaton made a mess of a low cross from Mohamed Salah and Firmino was left with the simplest of tap-ins.

Sadio Mane then put Liverpool ahead with a fine, curling finish after a poor clearance from Jeff Hendrick was blocked by Adam Lallana.

Burnley started the second half well but the outcome was put beyond doubt in the 67th minute when Heaton poorly kicked straight to Salah, the Egyptian bursting into the area, and Charlie Taylor's sliding tackle fell kindly to Firmino who made no mistake.

Substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson pulled back a goal in stoppage time for 17th-placed Burnley who remain two points above the relegation zone but then Mane added a fourth to make sure of the three points.

Chelsea looked to be heading defeat at home to Wolves after Raul Jimenez's second-half strike only for Eden Hazard to equalise with a brilliant injury-time strike.

Australian Associated Press