William Gallas equalised in injury-time to salvage a draw and keep Arsenal on top of the Premier League after an absorbing clash with Manchester United.
The opening 45 minutes proved an anti-climax until Gallas diverted Rooney's tame shot in on the stroke of half-time.
Manchester United striker Louis Saha will be fit for Saturday's crunch match at Arsenal.
The French strike ace, 29, looks to have shaken off the knee injury that has plagued him for months - and kept him out for nearly four weeks.
After Saha came through a first full training session, a Red Devils insider revealed to The Sun: "He looked fit and raring to go."
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson played questions over Louis Saha's fitness with a straight bat yesterday.
Last season Ferguson spoke publicly of the difficulties of convincing Saha he was fit to play. But the United manager has abandoned that tactic. Last night - crammed inside an interview area the size of a shoebox at the Olympiyskiy Stadium - Ferguson rather ducked the issue.
LOUIS Saha's injury nightmare continues with the striker ruled out of Manchester United's Champions League trip to Dynamo Kiev - while Nemanja Vidic remains a doubt.
The injury-plagued French international was hoping to make the trip to the Ukraine despite missing the 4-1 win at Aston Villa with a long-term knee problem.
Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to make Nemanja Vidic's birthday weekend by declaring him fit to face Aston Villa, while Edwin van der Sar has confirmed he could play.
Louis Saha will miss France's Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania with a knee injury.
The United striker was called up for his country's Group B double-header, but left the French training camp in Clairefontaine on Tuesday, and the French Football Federation confirmed he will not be replaced in the squad.
Wayne Rooney's first goal of the season fired Manchester United to victory against Roma at Old Trafford. Rooney broke the deadlock with a sharp 15-yard finish after he was set up by Nani to leave United three points clear at the top of Group F.
Sir Alex Ferguson has no worries about Manchester United's attack, despite the fact that United have scored just seven goals in eight games so far this season!
He said: "All the front players have been slow to get on to their game - that's understandable with Wayne with his injury and Tevez missing pre-season.
Cristiano Ronaldo struck five minutes after half-time to give Manchester United victory at Birmingham and move them second in the Premier League.
United lost keeper Edwin van der Sar through injury at half-time and had to survive a spirited Birmingham display.
Gary Neville hopes United can now go on a long winning run, with Louis Saha making a goalscoring return against Sunderland, Cristiano Ronaldo now free from suspension and Wayne Rooney’s comeback from injury reportedly not far off.