Arsenal second goal was from Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang's Penalty goal 21 minutes from time moved the Gunners into fourth.
Arsenal do not face any of the top six in their remaining eight league games, whilst United host title-chasing Manchester City and Chelsea in the coming weeks on top of their Champions League and FA Cup commitments. European trips to France for both sides in midweek produced vastly contrasting results as United shocked free-spending Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
David de Gea made 14 saves as the Red Devils won 3-1 at the Emirates last season in one of the Spaniard’s best ever United performances but for once De Gea was found wanting for the opening goal as he failed to read the swerve on Xhaka’s long-range strike.