Premiership round up
Reigning champions Arsenal shot back to the top of the English Premiership today after a 3-0 win over Tottenham in the north London derby.
With Liverpool playing Sunderland at Anfield tomorrow, Arsenal grabbed their chance to go two points clear with goals from Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord.
Henry scored Arsenal's first at Highbury after 13 minutes with a superb individual effort, taking the ball all the way from within his own half.
Swedish international Ljungberg put Arsenal further ahead when he met a Sylvain Wiltord cross 10 minutes after the break.
Robert Pires was the provider for his French international teammate Wiltord to kill off the match with the third goal in the 71st minute.
Tottenham never recovered after Simon Davies was sent off midway through the first half for his second bookable offence.
Chelsea cemented third place in the table and closed the gap on Liverpool to three points when they beat high-flying Middlesbrough 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Nigerian international Celestine Babayaro chested down a pass from Gianfranco Zola and hammered in a superb shot for the only goal of the game just after half time.
The victory ensured Claudio Ranieri's side went three points clear of fourth-placed Everton, who play Blackburn away tomorrow, while Middlesbrough drop to seventh.
Newcastle followed their qualification for the second phase of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Southampton at St James' Park which lifted them up to sixth.
After just two minutes, James Beattie opened the scoring for Southampton with his sixth goal in six games before Shola Ameobi equalised four minutes before the half-time break.
Aaron Hughes scored the decisive goal in the 54th minute but it was a frustrating afternoon for Alan Shearer. Seeking his 100th goal for the club, Shearer had one effort disallowed for offside and a goalbound header cleared off the line by Wayne Bridge.
In the day's other derby, Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion ground out a workmanlike 0-0 draw in the battle of the West Midlands at the Hawthorns.
Veteran Villa midfielder Dion Dublin missed a second-half penalty - and with it the chance for his 100th Premiership goal - when goalkeeper Russell Hoult saved.
Manchester City crashed down to earth after their win in last weekend's Manchester derby when Kevin Keegan's side were beaten 1-0 at Maine Road by struggling Charlton, South African striker Shaun Bartlett scoring the only goal late in the second half.
In tomorrow's other games, Manchester United play West Ham, Leeds face Bolton and Birmingham host Fulham.
AFP