Americo Gallego's side needed a controversial penalty three minutes before the interval to level the score at 2-2 and the first division's top scorer Andres Silvera headed the winner in the 51st minute of Friday night's match.

Independiente have taken 26 points from a possible 33 but their lead could be cut back down to two points if River Plate, who are on 21, win at Nueva Chicago on Sunday.

Burruchaga, returning to Independiente as a coach for the first time since his playing days as a midfield favourite, saw his Arsenal side get off to a lightning start.

Javier Morales put Arsenal ahead in the ninth minute when he broke away down the left and beat goalkeeper Leonardo Diaz with a diagonal shot to the far post.

Two minutes later, the Independiente fans were stunned when Silvio Gonzalez, also from the left, lobbed Diaz to put Arsenal two goals up.

Silvera laid on Independiente's first goal with a weaving run in which he beat three defenders before passing to Lucas Pusineri who scored in the 36th.

Six minutes later Federico Insua equalised from the spot after the referee awarded a penalty after Pablo Guinazu went down under a challenge.

Burruchaga and his players protested en masse, claiming Guinazu had dived and were lucky to get away with one booking for Carlos Ruiz.

Silvera took his tally to 11 goals in as many games when he headed the winner six minutes after the break.

Arsenal, a small club in their first season in the top flight, remain in eighth place on 15 points.