Manchester United and Newcastle took advantage of a surprise defeat for Arsenal to slash the champions’ lead at the top of the premier league on Saturday. Arsenal stayed on 63 points after losing 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers, allowing second-placed Manchester United to cut their advantage to two points thanks to a 1-0 win at Aston Villa. With eight games to go Newcastle (58) are only five points behind Arsenal following their 2-0 victory at Charlton Athletic. Well-struck goals in each half by Blackburn midfielders Damien Duff and Tugay condemned Arsenal to their first defeat in 13 league games, dating back to December 7. Blackburn completed a rare double, having won 2-1 at Highbury in October. David Beckham scored United’s winner at Villa in an early kickoff, while Alan Shearer, with a penalty, and Nolberto Solano secured Newcastle the points in a bruising game at The Valley. Mick McCarthy suffered a damaging home defeat — 2-0 by Bolton Wanderers — in his first game as manager of bottom club Sunderland, who are now 10 points from safety and seemingly doomed. Blackburn deserved their second league success of the season over Arsenal with a determined performance. Irishman Duff, back after seven weeks out with a hamstring injury, volleyed home on 21 minutes after the ball ricocheted around the penalty area, and Turkish international Tugay doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half. Arsenal, who face a do-or-die Champions League trip to Valencia on Wednesday, seemed tired and seldom looked like getting back into the game as strikers Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp drew a rare blank. “It looked like we had no legs today,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said before confirming that defender Martin Keown would be out for three weeks with a leg injury. England captain Beckham tucked home a cross by Ryan Giggs after 12 minutes to settle an even contest at Villa Park. Villa had their chances, notably through Mustapha Hadji and Dion Dublin, but United went closest to scoring again when Giggs curled a second-half free kick against the goal frame. Newcastle looked surprisingly fresh after their battling 2-2 Champions League draw at Inter Milan, with strikers Shearer and Craig Bellamy quickly in the thick of the action against Alan Curbishley’s competitive Charlton side. Bellamy won the penalty from which Shearer rammed home their 33rd-minute opener and he crossed for Peruvian Solano to sidefoot the second goal four minutes after the interval. Nigerian Jay Jay Okocha and Dane Henrik Pedersen scored in the space of five minutes early in the second half at the Stadium of Light to cast Sunderland adrift. Bolton’s win made it a miserable debut for former Ireland boss McCarthy, Sunderland’s third manager this season, but moved Sam Allardyce’s side, on 29 points to Sunderland’s 19, two points clear of third-bottom West Ham. The Hammers will nonetheless be pleased with a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park, where fourth-placed Everton dropped two important points in their bid for a Champions League spot. Brazilian Juninho, despite not being match fit, scored Middlesbrough’s second goal at Elland Road and made the winner, scored by Cameroon wing back Geremi, in a 3-2 victory as Leeds slipped closer to danger. Terry Venables’s team have only 34 points, seven clear of West Ham, who occupy the third relegation spot. Southampton striker James Beattie joined Henry as the premier league’s top scorer on 19 goals after he and Swedish defender Michael Svensson, in the dying seconds, salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw at Fulham. On Sunday, Birmingham City, on 32 points, look to ease their relegation worries when they visit Manchester City. Liverpool go to Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea travel to second-bottom West Bromwich Albion knowing a win will lift them above Everton into fourth place. (Reuters)
