- Manchester United go eight points clear in English Premier League
- United beat QPR 2-0 with Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes scoring
- Manchester City lose 1-0 at third-placed Arsenal
- City's Mario Balotelli sent off at the Emirates
(CNN) -- Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes scored as Manchester United beat 10-man Queens Park Rangers 2-0 Sunday to strengthen their grip on the English Premier League title.
Victory left them eight points clear of local rivals Manchester City, who were beaten 1-0 at Arsenal in the late kick off.
Arsenal's Mikel Arteta beat England goalkeeper Joe Hart with a superb shot three minutes from time to all but end City's title hopes.
City's misery was complete when striker Mario Balotelli was sent off just before the final whistle for a second yellow card.
Manager Roberto Mancini had told Sky Sports that with United winning at home to QPR his side had to win to stay in the championship race.
"Today for us is like a final, otherwise eight points is too much," he told Sky Sports.
Arsenal's win takes them two points clear of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for third spot.
Reigning champions United had continued their recent superb run against strugglers QPR.
The visitors were immediately on the back foot when Shaun Derry was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Ashley Young in conceding a penalty.
It looked a marginal decision but Rooney thumped home the penalty for his 30th goal of the season and his 12th in 12 matches.
United dominated the match and in the second half the veteran Scholes duly grabbed his third goal since coming out of retirement as United made in 11 wins in 12 EPL matches.
QPR remained just above the relegation zone albeit on goal difference alone after their defeat.
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