Arsenal moves two points clear

London:

Sol Campbell and Robert Pires fired Arsenal two points clear at the top of the Premier League in a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday while Chelsea jumped into second place with a 2-0 beating of Aston Villa. The Gunners totally dominated a Middlesbrough team which had Luke Wilkshire sent off 17 minutes from the end and ended a run of three games without a goal from open play. Eidur Gudjohnsen and Frank Lampard scored Chelsea's goals at Stamford Bridge as the Blues leapfrogged Manchester United. The result made it seven home wins in a row and 10 games unbeaten in the league while Villa still hasn't won away from home and has scored just two goals. Alex Ferguson's Reds are not in action until Sunday when they go to Blackburn, the day's other game being the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton. Newcastle moved above Everton and Liverpool to fourth with a 2-0 beating of Fulham thanks to goals by Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano and Welsh striker Craig Bellamy. Alan Shearer, who scored against every Premier League club except Fulham had a great chance to do it from the penalty spot but fired high and wide. Fulham's Pierre Wome was sent off for a foul. Saturday's results meant that Arsene Wenger's Gunners have 39 points from 19 games - half way through the season - Claudio Ranieri's Chelsea has 37 from 19, Alex Ferguson's Manchester United has 35 from 18, Newcastle and Everton 32 from 18 and Liverpool 31 from 18. While there were positional changes in the top six, the bottom four all stayed the same after two tense but thrilling games. Last place West Ham threw away the lead after Ian Pearce had scored with next to last Bolton hitting back through Michael Ricketts for a 1-1 tie. (AP)