Arsenal and Manchester United opened up a gap at the top of the
English Premier League, each with a 1-0 win on Sunday.
Arsenal defeated Chelsea for the first time since February 2004
to reclaim top spot in 40 points.
Manchester United had moved above them after winning 1-0 at
Liverpool earlier in the day but William Gallas' header ensured
Gunners' win and one point edge over United.
Chelsea stay third on 34 points, followed by Manchester City
(33) and Liverpool, who remain fifth with 30 points after the
defeat.
Gallas took full advantage of an astonishing blunder by Petr
Cech to punish his former club, who traded him in acrimonious
circumstances as part of the deal that took Ashley Cole to Stamford
Bridge.
The Gunners skipper was left with a simple header into an empty
net after Cech, widely regarded as a world class goalkeeper,
completely misjudged a corner from Cesc Fabregas in first-half
stoppage time.
John Terry's injury worsened the Blues' afternoon, with the
visiting captain sent for X-rays on his first metatarsal after
kicking the bottom of Emmanuel Eboue's boot as the Arsenal man left
his foot raised.
But Eboue was himself stretchered off in the second half after a
late challenge from Joe Cole in a frenetic clash.
Shaun Wright-Phillips should have equalized but missed from six
yards, while Manuel Almunia saved an Andriy Shevchenko free-kick in
injury time.
Arsenal, who probably showed more invention and ability on the
break than Chelsea, were denied two late goals.
A Robin van Persie goal was ruled out for offside four minutes
from time and an Emmanuel Adebayor effort was disallowed after he
fouled Tal Ben Haim while he powered towards goal two minutes
later.
At Anfield, Carlos Tevez's first-half winner gave Manchester
United a priceless victory.
He was lurking from close range to stab home Wayne Rooney's
driven shot of a Ryan Giggs corner three minutes before
half-time.
Liverpool never really came close to equalizing after the
interval as United extended their unbeaten run at Anfield to six
Premier League outings.
Harry Kewell missed Liverpool's best chance in the 28th minute.
His shot was cleared off the line by Anderson with Fernando Torres
heading the rebound over the bar.
Rooney wasted a golden opportunity to score a second for United
in the 78th minute, shooting hopelessly wide from close range from
Cristiano Ronaldo's pass when unmarked.
(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2007)