IN PICTURES: How Manchester United Clinched 20th Premier League Title With 4 Games Left to Play

Proud: Robin van Persie holds up his No 20 shirt after Manchester United claim their 20th league title

Let the party begin: A bare-chested Rio Ferdinand bounces around in the dressing room

Time for champers: Sir Alex Ferguson pops the cork in front of his tactics board

Time to celebrate: Robin van Persie is joined by his Manchester United team-mates after sealing the League

In the mix: Rio Ferdinand joins in with the team as they party on the pitch after the full-time whistle

Job done: Patrice Evra claps the Old Trafford crowd after helping his side to their 20th League title

Legend: Sir Alex Ferguson salutes the crowd after the resounding victory at the Theatre of Dreams

Roberto Mancini, manager of Manchester City, for instance, said Van Persie could decide the title in United’s favour and so it has proved. Whether City were ever in competition for his signature is debatable.
Sir Alex Ferguson told confidantes two years ago that Van Persie was the one great player left at Arsenal and that he could get him at any time. Seeing the title go to City last season might have crystallised those thoughts.

Last night made the logic irrefutable. Van Persie destroyed Villa and, in doing so, steered United over the line at a trot. Nobody wins the title waving and throwing roses to the crowd. United, however, went close.

It helped that United had several swings at getting the three points required, not just this one, but even so Ferguson looked uncommonly calm prior to kick-off, still signing autographs after the match had started. He put his pen away just in time to see United take the lead.

Relief: Robin van Persie holds his arms aloft after securing the title for Manchester United

Out with a bang: Robin van Persie’s second goal was a joy to behold and set United on course

One hand on the trophy: Van Persie celebrates scoring his hat-trick goal after 33 minutes

Antonio Valencia carried the ball down the right and laid it back to Rafael, whose cross at first appeared to have been hit too deep. The curl on the ball kept it in and Ryan Giggs played the ball back across goal for Van Persie to tap it in from close range.
The celebrations began from there.

It was party time at Old Trafford, a surprisingly rare occasion considering this is Ferguson’s 13th league title.

Credit where it’s due: Van Persie picks Wayne Rooney up after he picked the Dutchman out for his wonder goal

Early doors: Van Persie scored his first after just two minutes on the pitch

Three and easy: Van Persie showed great composure to score United’s third goal of the night

Touching: Ferguson hugs his star man after the full-time whistle

Don’t forget us: Tom Cleverley (centre right) and Danny Welbeck get in on the act too

Give us a wave: Ferguson knows he has one hand on the trophy with a few minutes to play

Get that changed: This banner will have to be replaced before the next game at Old Trafford

The difference? Van Persie and United played some of their best football of the season in the first half

Demanding: Sir Alex Ferguson encouraged his side to continue to press against Villa

Tussle: Nathan Baker appears to climb on the back of United’s Shinji Kagawa when they vie for the ball

Raging: Ferguson was still on the touchline in the second half urging his players to up their game

Danger man: Van Persie (centre) ran riot in the first period as Villa scrambled to contain him

Nightmare start: Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert took his side in 3-0 down at half-time

In attendance: Manchester United owners the Glazers were at Old Trafford for the occasion

It was a masterful finish, precisely what a fee of £24million is supposed to buy — what Chelsea thought they were getting for £50m from Fernando Torres.

The tradition will see Arsenal forming a guard of honour when Manchester United visit in six days time. It will stick in the craw to salute the former captain who deserted their cause, but no player will deserve it more.
Indeed, as one prime candidate withdraws from the running for Footballer of the Year, so Van Persie reacquaints us with the identity of the most influential player this season. Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale have turned in magnificent individual displays for Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, propelling their clubs forward, but Van Persie has defined the title race.

Never in doubt: United fans hold up flags and scarves before the match against Aston Villa

United lost the title last season on goal difference, never forget, and it is Van Persie who has ensured there will be no repeat of that embarrassment for a team usually so prolific.