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MANCHESTER, England -- David Moyes has been waiting for a signature victory to kickstart his short, erratic tenure at Manchester United. Niklas Sule Jersey . Who better to get it against than the Premier League leaders? After falling short against title rivals Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City so far this season, United finally delivered when it really mattered by beating Arsenal 1-0 on Sunday thanks to Robin van Persies 27th-minute goal against his former club. The reigning champions are back within sight of Arsenal in fifth place and on the march, unbeaten in nine games in all competitions. "I dont think it puts out a statement," said Moyes, who has struggled under the pressure of succeeding Alex Ferguson at United. "I think people have known for years how good Manchester United have been. "My job and the teams job is to try to show we can do that again. We know we are going to get a few bloody noses along the way." Since leaving north London for Manchester in August last year for 24 million pounds (then $38 million), Van Persie has scored in all three games against Arsenal. Still unable to forgive the Netherlands striker, Arsenals away contingent wasnt shy in expressing their feelings toward Van Persie early in the game. The chants were crude and personal. Van Persie responded the only way he could -- by scoring. Getting away from marker Olivier Giroud, he met Wayne Rooneys corner with a header that looped into the top corner. Van Persie scored for the fourth straight match in the league and for a seventh time this campaign, as he looks to become the Premier Leagues top scorer for a third season in a row. It was one of the few sights of goal in a cagey match in which Arsenal played well within itself, displaying an inferiority complex many thought had disappeared after its strong start to the season. This was only its first defeat since the opening-day loss to Aston Villa. "I felt we were a bit nervous at the start of the game and didnt play our game and against a team like United who was nervous and a bit insecure, we gave them a little bit of comfort," said Wenger, who was without Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky due to a virus that affected the squad during the days before the match. The Gunners were flat at the end of a week in which they beat Liverpool in the league and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. A win at Old Trafford would have put them 11 points clear of United. Now, they are just five points ahead of Moyes improving side. "We knew we had to win today at all costs," Rooney said. "That was the toughest weve been to break down and we defended really well. We knew we could not afford to lose today, we couldnt let Arsenal get 11 points away from us." With Rooney often to the fore, United hounded the visitors into sloppy errors early on and kept playmaker Mesut Ozil on the periphery. Arsenals only half-chance fell to Giroud, and he headed over from the edge of the area from Aaron Ramseys cross. The Londoners were given a lift at halftime, however, with United centre back Nemanja Vidic not coming out for the second half after being clattered in the head by the hip of his goalkeeper, David de Gea, in the final seconds of the first half. Vidic was taken to a hospital but Moyes said the Serbian defender was conscious, adding: "As far as we know, hes going to be OK." Phil Jones, who had been shielding the defence brilliantly in central midfield, dropped into the backline and Arsenals silky midfielders finally had some space to perform. United initially remained in the ascendancy, with Rooney dragging a left-foot shot just wide from the edge of the area on the hour mark. But Arsenal slowly began to take command, probing around Uniteds area. Two devilish crosses by Bacary Sagna were missed by Giroud then Nicklas Bendtner, Jones denied Giroud with a last-ditch tackle and the France striker slid a shot just wide of the post. However, De Gea was never seriously tested throughout. For the champions, it could be the victory that sparks their season. "Its another step in the right direction for us, but we have a lot of steps to take here," Moyes said. "Its going to take a while to get it the way I want it to be. But Im thrilled because the boys put in a great performance." Christian Fruchtl Jersey . Chris Heisey followed with a two-run triple and Billy Hamilton added an RBI double, all but sealing Cincinnatis fourth straight victory and seventh in eight games. Brandon Phillips, celebrating his 33rd birthday, hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth for the Reds before pinch-hitter Buster Posey tied it with an RBI double off hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom half. Ron-Thorben Hoffmann Jersey . Even if he is shooting 38 per cent from the field overall this season, the Utah Jazz rookie always feels like his final shot is going in. http://www.soccerfcbayernshop.com/kids-thiago-alcantara-bayern-munich-jersey/ . Braden Calverts Winnipeg rink rallied to defeat Italy 8-7. After giving up three points in the second end, Calvert came back with a single, then stole two more points in the next two ends to tie it up at the fifth-end break.NAPLES, Italy -- Italy won both singles matches against Britain in straight sets on Sunday to reach the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time in 16 years. Fabio Fognini pulled off a surprise 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray to level the best-of-five quarterfinal at 2-2 before Andreas Seppi defeated James Ward 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive match. "A great feat, a great success for all Italian tennis," Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti said. "It was time we got back to the semifinals. Its credit to everyone, to a team which has a great character. It was a victory of character." Britain was looking to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1981 but Fognini was in commanding form to end Murrays run of 19 consecutive singles victories in the competition. Seppi rarely struggled against a player ranked 127 places below him and comfortably served out for the match. Italy will play Switzerland in Septembers semifinal. "Today I just played better than Andy and thats tennis," Fognini said. "I was annoyed yesterday after the doubles. This was a very important victory, its certainly my best match in Davis Cup. I just stayed focused on my game and I managed to win." Fognini triumphed in the match between the countries top players, despite dropping his serve in the first game. The 13th-ranked Fognini managed to save two break points but double-faulted to hand Murray the opening game. Fognini had the opportunity to break straight back but hit long and then netted on another break point as Murray went on to take a 2-0 lead. In a typically lively Davis Cup atmosphere, British fans chanted "Fabio, we are in your head," but he was cheered on by the vvociferous home support. Gianluca Gaudino Bayern Munich Jersey. Fognini broke Murray to love and earned another break when Murray double-faulted as he won five straight games to take the opening set. Murray almost dropped serve again early in the second set as he had to fend off two break points after being 40-0 up. However, Fognini broke twice at the end of the set following another double-fault from Murray on the first of two break points. The final set went with serve until the final game, when Fognini went up 40-0 on Murrays serve. Murray saved one match point when Fognini netted a forehand, and rescued the second with a crosscourt volley but hit the third into the net. It was Murrays second defeat in 20 singles matches in the Davis Cup. Fognini moved to 14-2 on clay this season. "He played very well today, thats for sure," Murray said. "Hes a very good player especially on this surface, so I knew it was going to be a tough one and I wasnt able to play well enough. I did OK physically, not the best, but Ive been worse." Italy had not lost at home to Britain since 1926, and Seppi protected that record by winning a match that saw seven breaks of serve in the opening set. Seppi was gifted the set after three successive errors from Ward and he held to love to take the opening game of the second. Ward missed a chance to get back into the match in the fifth game and Seppi took a decisive 4-2 lead when Ward volleyed into the net after saving three previous break points. Seppi held to love with a drop shot for a 2-0 lead in the match. Ward had to save another three break points in the first game of the third but Seppi won four games in a row en route to the victory. He sealed the win when Wards return sailed long. ' ' '