Arsenal move further ahead
Saturday, February 28, 2004
Article summary
Arsenal FC increased their English Premiership lead to nine points as they beat Charlton Athletic FC.
Article body
Unbeaten Arsenal FC increased their English Premiership lead to nine points with only eleven games to go as they beat Charlton Athletic FC 2-1 while Manchester United FC were held by Fulham FC.
Henry milestone
Arsenal made the perfect start at home to Charlton with two goals in four minutes. First Robert Pires turned in Fredrik Ljungberg's pass, then Thierry Henry shot in from the edge of the area for his 20th Premiership goal of the season. Charlton were back in the game on 58 minutes when Claus Jensen scored a free-kick from 20 metres out but could not level.
Saha scores
United came to Fulham with the champions' Louis Saha determined to make an impression against the side he left in January. And having gone close in the opening ten seconds, he registered in the 14th minute with a fine finish after a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fulham level
However, United, who started with Ruud van Nistelrooij, Ryan Giggs and Tim Howard on the bench, could not add to their lead and Luis Boa Morte's close-range finish 26 minutes from time ensured a 1-1 draw that moved Fulham into seventh. The teams meet again next Saturday in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Relief for Chelsea
Chelsea overtook United on goal difference following a 1-0 win at lowly Manchester City FC. Substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen turned in Frank Lampard's ball from the left eight minutes from the end to claim the points.
Strugglers draw
City are only four points off the bottom three after Wolverhampton Wanderers FC left the relegation zone with a 0-0 draw at 19th-placed Leicester City FC. Portsmouth FC fell behind Wolves and welcome fourth-placed Newcastle United FC tomorrow, when bottom team Leeds United AFC are at home to Liverpool FC.
Late goals
Everton FC put distance between them and the bottom three as they gained their first Premiership win of 2004 by beating Aston Villa FC 2-0. Goals in the final 13 minutes from Tomasz Radzinski and Thomas Gravesen clinched the victory.
Blackburn held
Blackburn Rovers FC remain in danger, though, after drawing 1-1 at home to Southampton FC. Kevin Phillips gave Southampton a fifth-minute lead but Andy Cole salvaged a point for Blackburn on 52 minutes.
League Cup final
Alongside Sunday's two Premiership fixtures, a UEFA Cup berth is on offer for Bolton Wanderers FC or Middlesbrough FC.in the League Cup final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
