Back from the brink

Arsenal leapfrogged Chelsea, who host Middlesbrough on Sunday, into second place, three points behind Manchester United before the leaders host Aston Villa later on Saturday.

Captain William Gallas put Arsenal, who had not won at the Reebok Stadium in their previous five league visits and had lost on their last three, back into the match when he turned in Cesc Fabregas’s corner in the 63rd minute.

Robin van Persie equalised with a penalty five minutes later after Gary Cahill brought down Alexander Hleb and Fabregas’s 90th-minute shot was deflected in by J Lloyd Samuel as Arsenal ended a run of five league games without victory.

“It was important to get into a winning way again,” manager Arsene Wenger said. “I know the mental strength of this team, they can dig deep.”

Derby relegated

Derby County were relegated after a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham, Birmingham City’s 3-1 win over Manchester City sealing the bottom team’s fate. Argentine Mauro Zarate scored twice for Birmingham who stayed clear of the drop zone, where Bolton remain along with Fulham with six games to go.