ABOU DIABY gifted Manchester United three precious points at Old Trafford.
The Arsenal midfielder inexplicably headed into his own net as United came from behind to stay in touch with leaders Chelsea.
Arsenal had stunned the champions thanks to Andrey Arshavin's rocket opener five minutes before the break.
But Wayne Rooney levelled from the spot before Diaby's gaffe handed United the points.
Robin van Persie found the net in injury time but his effort was chalked off after William Gallas had strayed offside.
Arsene Wenger could not believe the decision on the touchline and was promptly sent off for his protests.
Rooney won his penalty in similar fashion to Eduardo's controversial Champions League spotkick for Arsenal in midweek - touching the ball past keeper Manuel Almunia before the contact brought him down. And Rooney insisted it was a clear foul.
He said: "There was no doubt about the penalty.
"I've got the ball past him and he's caught me."
Arsenal started well and Emmanuel Eboue had the first sniff of goal as he found space 25 yards out but dragged his effort wide.
United finally found their feet after 10 minutes as Arsenal failed to clear their lines. Rooney sized up his options before chipping the ball forward to Darren Fletcher who chested down but spooned his effort over.
Patrice Evra made a vital block on 25 minutes to divert Van Persie's shot for a corner. Ben Foster only cleared the set-piece to the edge of the area where Arshavin surged on to the loose ball before drilling his effort inches wide.
Rooney saw a free-kick go the wrong side of the post before the game exploded into life.
Arshavin appealed for a penalty after Fletcher's sliding tackle brought him down. Referee Mike Dean waved play-on much to Wenger's disgust.
But seconds later, the Gunners chief was all smiles as Arshavin picked up the ball in space 30 yards from goal.
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No one came to close him down and as he neared the edge of the penalty box he let fly and the wickedly swerving drive rocketed through Foster's arms.
Foster made amends with a brilliant save after the break to deny Van Persie, while at the other end Michael Carrick drove wide.
Ryan Giggs then sparked United's comeback as he threaded a superb pass through to Rooney on 59 minutes.
The England striker took one touch past Almunia and contact was inevitable, with Rooney hitting the deck.
Almunia was booked and then had to pick the ball out of the net as the United hitman sent him the wrong way with his spotkick.
Van Persie hit the bar with a curling free-kick from wide on the right three minutes later.
But the United fans were celebrating again within 60 seconds as Diaby headed Giggs' free-kick towards his own goal, leaving Almunia stranded as the ball bounced in.
Dimitar Berbatov had a superb chance to round off the scoring in injury time but he skewed his effort well wide.
Almunia made a save from Nani soon after before the Portuguese winger blazed the rebound over.
Van Persie thought he had levelled in the 96th minute but it was ruled out, with Gallas offside from the original pass.
Wenger again showed his disgust and was this time sent off by Dean as the game ended in thrilling fashion.
Man Utd: Foster, O'Shea, Brown, Vidic, Evra, Valencia (Park 63), Fletcher, Carrick, Nani, Giggs (Berbatov 85), Rooney. Subsnot used: Kuszczak, Neville, Owen, Anderson, Scholes. Booked: Evra, Brown, Rooney. Goals: Rooney 59 pen, Diaby 64 og.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Eboue (Bendtner 71), Denilson (Eduardo 79), Song, Diaby, Arshavin (Ramsey 81), van Persie. Subs not used: Mannone, Silvestre, Wilshere, Gibbs. Booked: Song, Gallas, Van Persie, Almunia, Eboue, Sagna. Goals: Arshavin 40.
Att: 75,095
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
