Three reasons why it’s time to back Man Utd for the title

Manchester United can still be backed at 9/2 to retain the Premier League title after their battling 1-0 win at home to top-flight pacesetters Arsenal.

This price is unlikely to stay around for long, with David Moyes’ charges beginning to show the kind of form and resolve that saw them crowned champions with four games to go last season.

Fit-again Robin van Persie has hit a rich vein of form and looks back to his brilliant best

The Netherlands’ record goalscorer and former Arsenal favourite celebrated like a man possessed after his winning goal against the Gunners, which showed just what his 27th-minute header meant to the red half of Manchester.

Two of United’s three Premier League defeats this season have occurred when the 30-year-old was not deemed fit enough for a place in the starting lineup, including the 4-1 shellacking at the hands of Man City.

The champions’ improved recent form directly correlates with their number one striker’s increased availability and the Dutchman has now scored in each of his side’s last four Premier League outings, which United took the maximum 12 points from.

Van Persie’s league-leading haul of 26 goals in 2012/13 was the single biggest factor in United’s successful title tilt and now he’s back in peak condition, Premier League defences beware.

Moyes has sorted out United’s leaky defence and they have conceded just once in their last four games

Rio Ferdinand will go down in history as one of Man Utd and England’s best ever centre-halves, but the 35-year-old was found wanting in the defeats to City and West Brom and it seems the former Three Lions captain’s best days are far behind him.

Ferdinand has not played in the Premier League since the 2-1 loss at home to the Baggies, with Moyes preferring to pair either Nemanja Vidic or Phil Jones next to Jonny Evans in the centre of defence.

Former Blackburn stopper Jones has arguably been United’s most impressive defender this term and coped admirably against Arsenal when asked to drop into the back four, after impressing in the holding-midfield role for the first 45 minutes.