Manchester, Sep 27 (IANS): On a high after claiming the top spot in the English Premier League (EPL) table, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is aiming to vanquish bitter rivals Arsenal in their next tie.

United took the top spot from city rivals Manchester City with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday evening and van Gaal insisted that the win has given his players much needed confidence after a poor start to the season.

"Next week we have Arsenal away and I think it is one of the most difficult teams to beat in the Premier League, but we won also last year there, so it is possible," the Dutchman told MUTV.

"I think that Manchester United can win against every team."

Saturday's match at Old Trafford also saw star striker Wayne Rooney and winger Memphis Depay bag their first goals of the season and the manager praised the duo for scoring at crucial points during the game.

"I am pleased for them but for me it does not make any difference because for me we have to make goals as a team. Who makes them is not so important. You have to beat your opponents and when you make one more goal than the opponents, you are the winner. That is the game," van Gaal said.

"But you need also luck and today the luck was in the last minute of the first half. Of course it is a wonderful goal, but it is in the last minute, it was more or less punishment after Sunderland wasted so much time in the first half."

Talking about teen sensation Anthony Martial, van Gaal said,"I am very pleased with the performance of Anthony because he is not only a goalscorer, he is also an attacking point and he also prepares goals. So for us he is more important than I thought before he came."

United are currently on 16 points from seven EPL matches, one point ahead of second placed City.