Arshavin strike gets Arsenal full points

Arsenal scored twice in the second half on Sunday to win 2-1 at Liverpool and keep the pressure on Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners trailed to a 41st-minute goal by Dirk Kuyt but Liverpool defender Glen Johnson levelled the scores five minutes into the second half with an own goal and Andrei Arshavin hit the winner eight minutes later with a shot from the edge of the area that left goalkeeper Pepe Reina stranded.

Victory lifted Arsenal to 31 points,three fewer than defending champions United and six fewer than leaders Chelsea. Liverpool,last seasons runners-up,remained stranded in seventh place with 24 points and six losses in 16 matches.

On Saturday,Manchester United had wasted a glorious chance to catch Chelsea at the top when they lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa. Gabriel Agbonlahors first-half header gave Villa their first league win at Old Trafford since 1983 and provided a huge boost to leaders Chelsea who had earlier been held 3-3 at home.

Liverpool could easily have led by more than a single goal after dominating the first half,with Fernando Torres shooting weakly at goalkeeper Manuel Almunia when he was unmarked in front of goal.

It was a mistake by Almunia that led to Kuyts first goal at Anfield in three months. Almunia punched weakly at a long-range free kick by Fabio Aurelio and the ball fell straight to Kuyt in the area. The Netherlands forward had time to control the ball with his chest and prod it into the net.

Slight deflection

But Arsenal started playing more narrowly in the second period and pressured the home midfield,resulting in possession being split more evenly. The equaliser arrived after Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas played a pass to Samir Nasri out on the right. Jamie Carragher failed to clear the Frenchmans cross and the ball took a slight deflection off him before hitting Johnson and rolling into the back of the net.

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Arshavin,who scored four goals at Anfield last season to earn his team a 4-4 draw,then collected the ball on the edge of the area.

A defender shielded him closely and seemingly blocked his way to goal,but the Russia international took one touch,turned and hit a shot between his opponents legs. Reina did not even have time to move his feet as the ball flew past him and into the net,off his right-hand post.

Arshavin,though,limped off in injury time and may join fellow forwards Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendnter injured on the sidelines.