Arsenal leapfrog London rivals

Henry decisive
Chelsea began the day level with Arsenal on 20 points but above their London rivals by virtue of a superior goal difference, yet fell behind to Edu's early deflected free-kick. Hernán Crespo equalised almost immediately, but Thierry Henry capitalised on a slip by Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini to score a 75th-minute winner.

Keane clincher
Manchester United FC also overtook Claudio Ranieri's side, winning 1-0 at Leeds United AFC thanks to a header from captain Roy Keane nine minutes from time.

Cúper dismissed
In Italy, the fall of Internazionale FC coach Héctor Cúper took centre stage after his side drew 2-2 at lowly Brescia Calcio on Saturday. Four successive Serie A matches without a win cost Cúper his job.

Zaccheroni replacement
Victories in both his club's UEFA Champions League Group B games to date, including a fine 3-0 win at Arsenal last month, were not enough to save the Argentinian, who will be replaced by one-time AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni.

Top two win
Inter are in eighth place, seven points behind leaders Juventus FC and Milan who both have 16 points after weekend victories. Juventus won 3-2 at Ancona Calcio on Saturday, while European champions Milan beat S.S. Lazio 1-0 with a 37th-minute Andrea Pirlo goal last night.

Sixth straight success
Spanish league leaders Valencia CF were in devastating form as they dispatched bottom club RCD Espanyol 4-0 at the Mestalla on Sunday to record their sixth consecutive win and return to the top of the Primera División.

Early advantage
Rafael Benítez's side were gifted an early lead when striker Mista guided the ball into the empty net after a deflected clearance ended up at his feet on the edge of the area. They effectively made sure of the points before the break when Rubén Baraja doubled the advantage.

Fine team display
Mista collected his second after slotting in at the far post following good work from Pablo Aimar then Vicente Rodríguez completed a masterful team performance when his crisp finish made it 4-0 on 79 minutes.

Winning run
Third-placed Real Madrid CF - who meet FK Partizan on Wednesday - won at the Balaídos stadium for the third year in a row, defeating RC Celta de Vigo 2-0 with goals from Brazilian pair Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos.

PSG progress
Paris Saint-Germain FC recorded their fifth successive victory to take advantage of the leaders' slip-ups and move menacingly into third position in France's Ligue 1 table.

Leading clubs held
As AS Monaco FC, Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais all failed to win, the capital club produced some scintillating football to brush aside Le Mans UC 72 with a five-star show. However, their 5-1 success came after Thabang Molefe had stunned the home crowd at the Parc des Princes by collecting his club's second goal of the season to open the scoring.

First-half strikes
Goals from Pauleta and Fabrice Fiorèse put PSG in the ascendancy before half-time and both scored again after the break. Then Reinaldo completed the victory, meaning Vahid Halilhodzic's side have 19 points from ten games.

Leverkusen lead
In Germany, Bayer 04 Leverkusen went top of the Bundesliga with an emphatic 4-1 victory away at bottom side Hertha BSC Berlin, while PSV Eindhoven kept up the pressure on Dutch leaders AFC Ajax by defeating SC Heerenveen 2-0 on Saturday.