Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League on Saturday after Arsenal drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough.

United won its match, thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a late winner in a 1-0 victory over bottom club Derby. Arsenal needed an 86th-minute goal from Kolo Toure to salvage a draw in its game. It was the fourth consecutive league draw for Arsenal.

Both clubs now have 67 points but Manchester United is top because it has better goal difference. Chelsea kept up in the title race by beating Sunderland 1-0 and is third with 64 points.

“I think the league now is bubbling up very nicely,” Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said before Arsenal played. “It should be a fantastic finish to the season.”

United had numerous chances in the first half - Ryan Giggs sent a header into the arms of Derby goalkeeper Roy Carroll and sent another two shots wide, Ronaldo curled a chance wide and struck the post and Wayne Rooney had a shot saved.

Derby forced United goalkeeper Ben Foster into two saves near the end of the half, stopping shots from Mile Sterjovski and Kenny Miller. It was Foster’s first start since he joined the club in July 2005 because Edwin van der Sar was sidelined with a groin injury and second-choice Tomasz Kuszczak was suspended.

Carroll, who played at United between 2001 and 2005, stopped Ronaldo’s free kick and a header in the space of a minute in the second half and the Portuguese winger then sent a free kick wide before he finally scored in the 76th minute. He took a cross from Rooney and volleyed the ball past Carroll for his 22nd league goal and 31st overall this season.

“In the first 20 minutes we should have been four or five up, and that would have made it much, much easier for us,” Ferguson said. “You have to admire the second half from Derby. They made a real battle of it.

“But the name of the game is to win, and we have to thank Ronaldo again. It was a fantastic goal because it wasn’t easy to take.”

Derby, which is almost certain to be relegated, now hasn’t won in the league in 24 matches.