Van Persie rose unchallenged to guide home Wayne Rooney's 27th-minute corner to spark scenes of jubilation at Old Trafford and silence the taunts of the visiting fans.
On another amazing weekend, in which Chelsea's home draw on Saturday was followed within 24 hours by shock defeats for Tottenham and Manchester City, United have now closed to within five points of Arsenal, who suffered their first league defeat since the opening day of the season.
Big goal: Robin van Persie's header gave Manchester United all three points in their clash with Arsenal
Rising highest: Van Persie's header from a corner looped over Wojciech Szczesny and Keiran Gibbs into the far corner
Frustrated: Arsenal players trudge off the pitch after their defeat, as Manchester United celebrate in the background
Match facts
Subs not used: Giggs, Lindegaard, Hernandez, Nani, Januzaj.
Booked: Jones, Rooney
Goals: Van Persie 27.
ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta (Gnabry 82), Flamini (Wilshere 61), Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla (Bendtner 78), Giroud.
Subs not used: Monreal, Fabianski, Bendtner, Jenkinson, Hayden.
Booked: Sagna, Flamini, Wilshere
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 75,138
Indeed, six points now separate the first eight in the table, with Liverpool and Southampton now Arsenal's closest pursuers.
United deserved their triumph too.
Quite apart from Van Persie's goal, Rooney ran himself to a standstill and Phil Jones was immense, initially in midfield, then central defence following the departure of Nemanja Vidic with a head injury.
The hosts owed a debt of thanks to Chris Smalling too.
Smalling might have wasted an outstanding chance to seal victory when he failed to get a proper connection to Van Persie's deep free-kick and headed disappointingly wide.
But, just as Olivier Giroud was lining up a shot from an excellent position inside the United box, it was Smalling who stepped in to make the decisive tackle and preserve United's unbeaten home record against the Gunners that stretches back to 2006.
There was no real surprise Van Persie should return to the United starting line-up, still less the Dutchman celebrated the opener with intent.
The trend has been for players to merely acknowledge what they had done, rather than glory in the pain they had caused to their old club.
Van Persie refrained himself when he scored in the corresponding fixture last term.
Crucial: David Moyes' team are back in the title race after a vital win
Frustrating: Arsene Wenger saw his side under-perform compared to their showings in recent weeks
Defeat: Wenger tries to get the ball back from Marouane Fellaini - but it didn't affect the outcome
Nemesis: Van Persie scored another goal against his former club
Mobbed: Manchester United players dive on top of Van Persie after the huge goal
Star man: Wayne Rooney's energetic performance inspired Manchester United to victory at Old Trafford
He's here, he's there: Wayne Rooney covered a
huge amount of the pitch in a Man of the Match performance at Old
Trafford - visit our Match Zone for more stats
However, the vicious taunts aimed at him by the visiting contingent throughout the opening stages at Old Trafford evidently changed his stance.
For Van Persie raced away in glee as his header flew over Kieran Gibbs before he was submerged by team-mates, then adopting a clenched fist salute as he re-appeared.
The blame for Van Persie's goal seemed to be pinned on Aaron Ramsey, who moved away from his station as Rooney delivered the corner.
There had to be some culpability as it was surely not part of Arsene Wenger's game-plan to afford such a predatory striker so much room.
It was not the only issue for Wenger to address at half-time.
Since that shock opening-day defeat to Aston Villa, that first period was as bad as Arsenal have been.
Missing Per Mertesacker due to a virus that was also affecting Mikel Arteta, the Gunners lacked the zip that has taken them clear at the Premier League summit.
Only Mathieu Flamini escaped the malaise, and he was booked for a late tackle on Jones.
Painful: Wojciech Szczesny and Phil Jones hit each other leaving the Arsenal goalkeeper in pain
Carrying on: Szczesny was able to continue however
Impact: David de Gea and Nemanja Vidic collide from a cross
Withdrawn: A bloodied Vidic was then substituted at half-time
The
young England star was one of United's stand-out performers, driving
out of midfield in a manner so obviously lacking for the past three
seasons.
He was also at the centre of the first of two worrying head clashes.
Cautioned when he clattered into Wojciech Szczesny, TV replays showed the contact to be accidental.
For a few seconds, the Arsenal keeper did not move.
After treatment, Szczesny continued, as did Jones, who had moved away rubbing his head.
Nevertheless, given the recent furore over Hugo Lloris, the decision raised an eyebrow.
In the final seconds of the opening period, Vidic went down in a heap after his face was crunched by David de Gea's knee.
There was no immediate substitution as United reached the interval with 10 men.
He was also at the centre of the first of two worrying head clashes.
Cautioned when he clattered into Wojciech Szczesny, TV replays showed the contact to be accidental.
For a few seconds, the Arsenal keeper did not move.
After treatment, Szczesny continued, as did Jones, who had moved away rubbing his head.
Nevertheless, given the recent furore over Hugo Lloris, the decision raised an eyebrow.
In the final seconds of the opening period, Vidic went down in a heap after his face was crunched by David de Gea's knee.
There was no immediate substitution as United reached the interval with 10 men.
Milestone: Ryan Giggs came on as a substitute to play in his 50th match against Arsenal
Foot in: Wenger watches as Kieran Gibbs tackles Antonio Valencia
Desire: Patrice Evra races to the ball under pressure from Mesut Ozil
No impact: Ozil failed to make his mark on the match
Take him on: Shinji Kagawa attempts to dribble past Bacary Sagna
Strong tackle: Sagna then wins the ball from the Japanese forward
The tough-tackling Serbian did not return for the second period though as Moyes introduced Tom Cleverley and moved Jones back into central defence.
It all rather obscured a disappointing lack of goalmouth action.
Szczesny had earlier saved a long-range effort from Rooney but Arsenal were devoid of opportunity as Olivier Giroud failed to find any space and Mesut Ozil struggled to make an impact.
The visitors improved after the break, with Ozil slicing an angled effort into the side-netting.
Wenger still felt compelled to introduce Jack Wilshere after an hour, a move that came just after his side had survived Rooney nipping past Bacary Sagna and belting a low shot inches wide.
The visitors pushed forward in increasing desperation. But United defended valiantly.
Smalling was involved in key moments at both ends before Sagna's low cross bounced inches away from Nicklas Bendtner.
Hold up play: Giroud keeps the ball away from Jonny Evans
The handshake: Nemanja Vidic and Thomas Vermaelen shake hands ahead of the match
Ready: The Arsenal and Manchester United teams line up in the tunnel prior to kick off
Scouting mission: England boss Roy Hodgson takes his seat ahead of next week's international matches
Lest we forget: Old Trafford bares the poppy to mark Remembrance Sunday
Silence: Players and supporters observe the minute's silence
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