The Argentinian made no mistake from six yards in the 83rd minute - ten minutes after City defender Andy Wilkinson had been sent off for a second yellow card.

United suffered a blow when Rio Ferdinand was forced to pull out after the pre-match warm-up with Jonny Evans stepping in to take his place.

And Stoke almost got off to a sensational start with Ricardo Fuller squandering an outstanding opportunity after just 50 seconds.

Richard Cresswell’s mis-hit shot ballooned into the air and, as the United rearguard hesitated, Fuller ran clear before slicing his effort over the top.

Stoke were being willed on by their fervent supporters and it needed a fine tackle from Paul Scholes to deny Fuller another clear strike on goal in the tenth minute.

It was once again Fuller who was causing problems minutes later when Edwin van der Sar raced from his goal to deny him after the Jamaica international had fastened onto a super pass from Rory Delap.

The sight of Delap, who had suffered shoulder problems, delivering his long throw-ins was another sign of encouragement for the home fans, who were raising the roof at a packed Britannia Stadium.

United finally landed a blow on Stoke’s goal in the 25th minute when Wayne Rooney headed Gary Neville’s cross straight into the clutches of Thomas Sorensen.

There were three bookings in rapid succession, Cresswell and Wilkinson for Stoke and Evans for United, as a full-blooded contest continued to boil.

United gradually began to see more of the ball in the final stages of the first half and Rooney fizzed one cross dangerously along City’s six-yard box, before attempting to curl home a shot which was deflected away for a corner.

The visitors upped the ante at the start of the second half as Sorensen saved Tevez’s effort and then produced a magnificent effort to deny Scholes.

Scholes had time to look up and pick his spot from 25 yards, but Sorensen took off at full stretch to tip the ball around the post.

But Stoke were in no mood to be forced back and van der Sar made a similar save to deny Fuller just seconds later before Danny Pugh headed a Delap throw narrowly over.

Sir Alex Ferguson brought on Dimitar Berbatov for John O’Shea in an attempt to force the pace, but Stoke continued to look the most likely winners until Wilkinson was sent off.

Already booked for a foul on Ryan Giggs in the first half, the young defender’s inexperience showed as he hacked at Cristiano Ronaldo’s ankles.

There was still no real sign of United breaking down the Stoke defence until the all-important goal arrived seven minutes from time.

Berbatov’s excellent first touch created room for a shot and, although he miscued his effort, Tevez steamed in to ram the loose ball into the roof of the net.

It was, however, a fair result as Villa had been on top for long spells of the game despite after-the-match claims from manager Arsene Wenger that the Gunners had never been in trouble.

ZAT KNIGHT

Three times Villa hit the woodwork as Arsenal were in danger of being destroyed. But they rode their luck to emerge with a good point.

The early turning point was when Denison took advantage of a Nigel Reo-Cocker mistake to give the Gunners a lead they hardly deserved.

Abou Diaby’s goal four minutes into the second half was of the highest quality and seemingly sealed the three points for Arsenal, but a Gareth Barry penalty after 65 minutes put the match back into the boiling pot with Knight grabbing only his second goal for Villa in the closing stages.

Villa, on the back of a six-game unbeaten run, certainly made an electrifying start on a cold winter’s night as they immediately pressurised the inconsistent Arsenal side but it was all to no avail.

An indication of Villa’s early determination was shown when Ashley Young narrowly failed to make a connection with his head to a right-wing cross from James Milner.

In the sixth minute a far from secure Arsenal had a real-let off when Steve Sidwell smashed his header against the crossbar following a right-wing corner.

Ominously very little was seen of Arsenal’s attack which had been expected to exert pressure on the opposition’s weakened defence which lacked the services of Martin Laursen and Carlos Cuellar.

Villa surprisingly maintained their blistering start and defender Luke Young moved up into the attack to crash a shot just over the bar.

With William Gallas struggling at the heart of Arsenal’s defence and the midfield lacking the class for which Arsenal have been renowned, Villa dictated for long spells.

Skipper Manuel Almunia excelled with a save from Gabby Agbonlahor. However, the Gunners skipper could only parry the ball out to the on-rushing Sidwell and the attacking midfielder saw his shot deflected away for a corner.

The Gunners lacked the skill to dominate a game and their performance only confirmed that the former top-four clubs are no longer having it all their own way.

Only the woodwork saved Arsenal again in the 35th minute when Milner’s effort was pushed onto the post by Almunia, while a long-range cross from Curtis Davies skidded off the crossbar.

Five minutes before the break Villa were rocked when Reo-Coker lost possession and the ball drifted into the path of Denison who hammered a low, raking shot past Brad Friedel - the first time the Villa keeper had been seriously tested.

There was no fluke about Diaby’s goal four minutes into the second half though. He created the opening on the halfway line with a delicate reverse pass to Samir Nasri and then careered forward to take the return pass before firing home on the run past a helpless Friedel.

Robin van Persie smashed an effort against the post with Villa on the ropes which indicated the transformation which had previously taken place in a ten-minute spell either side of half-time.

But Villa were far from finished. The petulant Gallas brought down Agbonlahor inside the penalty area and Barry smashed home the 65th-minute spot-kick to set up an exciting finish.

Slack marking from a Reo-Coker free-kick enabled Knight to score with a low shot following a pass from Barry in the 90th minute to ensure the points were shared.

However, he has recently lost many of these admirers as the Blues have been struggling over the past couple of months.

They limped through to the last 16 of the Champions League, while the record in their last five Premier League games is just two wins, two draws and a defeat.

According to the English press, Scolari has lost some sections of the dressing room, with a number of players believing that he doesn’t possess what it takes to succeed at the club.

Roberto Mancini has been linked with Chelsea on a number of occasions over the past year or so, and he has been sighted in London several times recently along with his close friend and agent Giorgio De Giorgis.

Mancini is still under contract at Inter until 2012, having been dismissed at the end of last season, and there are still some compensation issues to sort out, which Nerazzurri president Massimo Moratti has declared he hopes to sew up very soon.

Nevertheless, there is strong speculation that Scolari will be sacked at the beginning of next month, and Roman Abramovich will offer Mancini the opportunity to replace him.

The Brazilian-born player has shot to fame since leaving his homeland in 2002, establishing himself as one of the Primera Division’s most reliable middle-men.

The 32-year-old’s stock has risen even since Manchester United tried to sign him two years ago, as he was arguably Spain’s most impressive performer during their European Championship triumph this year.

Juventus have been tentatively linked with Senna since the summer, but now it seems the Red Devils’ cross-town rivals are leading the race for his signature.

City boss Mark Hughes had hoped to draft in Lassana Diarra from Portsmouth to play the holding role at Eastlands, but the Frenchman instead joined Real Madrid.

But Sparky has wasted no time searching for alternative targets, as his scouts were spotted in the crowd during Villarreal’s La Liga clash with Barcelona at the weekend.

However, it remains to be seen whether Senna will fancy a Premier League switch at this point in his career, especially as the El Submarino are through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Instead his focus remains on ensuring United are on the shoulders of the Premier League leaders going into 2009.

United travel to Stoke on Boxing Day after becoming Club World Champions on defeating LDU Quito in Japan on Sunday. They have two games in hand on their rivals. Liverpool are seven points clear and Chelsea six as the second half of the season is entered.

Ferguson feels United have the personnel to cope with the remainder of the campaign with . He said: “I do not think there will be any January transfers. I am happy with what I have got.

“We are probably going to bring back a couple of young players who have been on loan. That may just give us extra protection.

“We took 23 players to Japan and they are very substantial players. I would be happy to play any one of them.

“Winning the competition was a great boost to the club and the players. It was a great achievement and the important thing was they played well.

“They showed good enthusiasm through the matches and good concentration. We have come through it well.”

Ferguson is now intent on regaining ground on the domestic front.

He said: “If we get within a point or two of the leaders by New Year’s Day then we are in with a chance.

“The second half of the season is the most important because if you lose a game it means something, particularly when you get to March and April.

“Recent results have been predictable. Arsenal and Liverpool, given the position of the clubs and the history of the clubs, you expect a tight match.

“Because of Everton’s poor record against Chelsea you were worried about that. But having watched the game, they will consider themselves unlucky not to win the match. Equally, so I thought Chelsea defended well.”

Following United’s Boxing Day trip to the Britannia Stadium, Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges then play Middlesbrough at Old Trafford the following Monday, before an FA Cup tie away at Southampton.

Bolton manager Gary Megson should again select from an unchanged squad.

Joey O’Brien and Tamir Cohen are still sidelined with thigh injuries sustained in October. Cohen is close to a return but O’Brien is targeting the new year.

Torres, 24, has suffered a stop-start season, as a series of hamstring injuries interrupting his progress.

Liverpool take on Bolton on Boxing Day before a Premier League game against Newcastle on 28 December.

Torres made a huge impact for Liverpool last season after arriving at Anfield from Atletico Madrid, and went on to score the winner for Spain in the final of Euro 2008.

But this season has been a frustrating affair for Torres with a persistent hamstring injury restricting him to 13 starts and three substitute appearances.

Assistant manager Sammy Lee would not confirm whether Torres would play against Bolton, but admitted he was close to a return.

“Torres is improving. He’s been working very, very hard with his rehabilitation,” said Lee.

“As regards the Christmas period, I will say his rehab is coming on well.

“You have to try to take the positives from any negative situation. It wasn’t nice to have him injured or missing but that’s football. It’s the nature of the game, and he has had a break and will be back fresh now.

“I think it speaks volumes for the squad that they have managed to get to the top without Fernando for long periods.”

Liverpool enter the Christmas period top of the league for the first time since 1996.

And two wins from the next two games will give them their best points total in a calendar year for 19 years, the last time they won the title.

The injury is set to keep the Gunners captain sidelined for around four months but it will not require the Spain international to go under the knife.

Fabregas said: “After consulting with the best doctor possible, we’ve decided not to operate. If it would have been necessary it would have been the first thing I would have done but the doctor recommended to me not to do it because I’m young and the meniscus is not damaged.

“Although we cannot be certain because the injury only happened a few days ago, I will be out for more or less four months. My intention is to return as soon as possible to help my team-mates.”

Fabregas is expected to be out of action until April after suffering a partial rupture to his medial knee ligament.

Manager Arsene Wenger feels his skipper may only be back for the final month of the campaign but said: “I believe we are able to do it (without him).

“We have to find a way and we want to find a way to compensate for the fact he is not on the pitch to give everyone a bit more.

“I’m sure we can deal with it. When he comes back he can help us get over the line in the final months.”

The champagne corks had barely stopped popping on United’s Club World Cup victory at the weekend before France defender Evra turned his thoughts back to domestic action in England.

Not only did United enjoy a successful trip to Japan to end the year as world champions, as well as reigning Premier League and Champions League holders, but they received a further boost as Chelsea and Liverpool wasted their chance to open up a big lead over Sir Alex Ferguson’s team.

United could have returned from Asia with a substantial deficit to make up on the top two, but Liverpool’s draw at Arsenal and Chelsea’s goalless scrap at Everton kept the Old Trafford outfit within seven points of first place, with two games in hand.

Now Evra has already forgotten about United’s successful 2008 and is focusing on another trophy-filled 2009 with ronaldo and rooney in great form.

“My target is to win three titles in a row,” he said. “To win it again would be the best feeling. We have the potential to do it but we must keep working hard.”

Evra will be missing during United’s Christmas fixtures as he serves the four-match suspension handed out by the Football Association for his part in the battle of Stamford Bridge - the post-match row which erupted between United players and Chelsea groundstaff last season.

The former Monaco star is likely to make his first appearance after the ban against Chelsea, at Old Trafford.

“I would like to thank the FA for my little holiday, it means I can spend more time with my family over Christmas,” he joked.

“I have thought about the ban every day. Of course, I am happy we have won the trophy but I am still very angry because I don’t accept I did what they say.

“When you miss games through injury, you can understand it but to miss four games because of this hurts.

“It’s not the best Christmas present for me, that’s for sure.

Arshavin has been linked to Arsenal, Tottenham and Real Madrid and, according to a BBC website report Tuesday his agent, Dennis Lachter, said Arshavin and Zenit had agreed that he should find a new club in January.

“He will definitely move in January or the player and club will lose money,” Lachter said.

“Zenit and Andrei understand that it is time for them to part from each other.”

Arshavin, 27, was linked with Tottenham last summer following his impressive performances at Euro 2008, and this week Zenit general director Maxim Mitrofanov was quoted as saying his price tag was 20 million pounds and they hoped Arsenal would make an offer.

But Lachter denied reports that the player had visited both teams’ training grounds on a recent trip to London.

“That is not true,” he said.

“I was in London and he was there too, but the only reason he was there was to shoot an advert for a company he has a contract with.

“I was at the Tottenham training ground, but it looks like someone saw me there and made the connection - he’s never been there, either to Arsenal or Tottenham.”

Lachter also denied reports that the player had said he was only interested in playing for Barcelona and was uninterested in England.

“Arshavin never said he wanted only to play in Spain. Once again I believe a lot of things in the media just came from nowhere,” he said.

“If I were following a dream life, I could be out of this job two or three months ago as due to the explanation of the newspapers, he should already be the player of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Inter Milan - whatever.”

further he said he can give his kids a better future in uk than spain so he loves to move to england…..