London: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho termed goalkeeper David De Gea as the best in the world after the Spaniard equalled a Premier League record during his side's exhilarating 3-1 victory at Arsenal on Saturday.

De Gea made 14 saves - several of them exceptional - as Arsenal threw everything at United after conceding twice in the opening 11 minutes in a sizzling clash at the Emirates Stadium.

"I told him after the match, 'What I saw today was the best from a goalkeeper in the world'. You need the keeper to be there for you when the team needs him," Mourinho said.

De Gea saved twice in quick succession from Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac shortly before halftime and somehow kept out United striker Romelu Lukaku's miskick when trying to clear from a corner. After the break, he continued to thwart Arsenal's best efforts, making an astonishing double save to first keep out Alexandre Lacazette's shot and then stuck his leg out to deny Alexis Sanchez from point-blank range.

The only other goalkeeper to make so many saves in a Premier League match are Tim Krul for Newcastle United (versus Spurs in November 2013) and Vito Mannone for Sunderland (versus Chelsea in April 2014).

"De Gea was Man of the Match by a clear mile," Arsene Wenger said.

"I think it was a fantastic game," Mourinho, whose United sides had managed only one goal in their previous seven away to Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, said. "If I was in the stands or at home, I would have been sad for the game to finish.