LONDON – Arsenal’s woes worsened Saturday as they blew their chance to close the gap on English Premier League leaders Chelsea and Liverpool, who were held to goalless draws at home.

The imploding Gunners suffered their worst result of the season, as the top three were all held to goalless draws — top club Chelsea at home to Newcastle, second-placed Liverpool at home Fulham, and United away to Aston Villa.

Elsewhere, Portsmouth drew 2-2 with visitors Hull and Bolton grabbed a 3-1 win at Middlesbrough.

Arsenal are now in serious trouble with dressing-room strife matched by dismal results on the pitch.

William Gallas, reportedly stripped of the Gunners captaincy having blasted his team-mates in midweek for their lack of passion, was not even in the squad for the trip to Eastlands.

And the damage worsened in Manchester as Arsenal collapsed to a second straight defeat without scoring, leaving them 10 points off the Premier League pace in fourth place.

In the absence of Gallas, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia wore the skipper’s armband at Eastlands, but saw himself beaten three times as City moved up to 11th in the table.

In-form midfielder Stephen Ireland took advantage of a dreadful Gael Clichy clearance to score in the 45th minute.

And Brazil star Robinho scored a cheeky second in the 56th minute, chipping the ball over Almunia as the Spaniard came rushing out.

Two minutes after Daniel Sturridge came on as a substitute, Johan Djourou was adjudged to have brought him in the penalty box. Sturridge took the 90th penalty himself and scored to complete Arsenal’s misery.

Chelsea wasted a slew of goalscoring opportunities at Stamford Bridge as their once imperious home form took another knock with a 0-0 draw against strugglers Newcastle.

Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole missed the best chances for the hosts as Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech went relatively untroubled at the other end.

Joe Cole had the ball in the net for Chelsea but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Meanwhile, Spain striker Fernando Torres returned to the Liverpool starting line-up but took his complete failure to score at Anfield this season to a seventh straight game as his fledgling partnership with Robbie Keane failed to click once again.

Cottagers goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer made good saves from Keane, Lucas and Dirk Kuyt as mid-table Fulham earned a well-deserved point.

Third-placed Manchester United host Aston Villa in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Hull grabbed a last-gasp point at Fratton Park to deny Portsmouth victory.

Peter Crouch, who made a 28-second substitute appearance in England’s 2-1 win over Germany in Berlin on Wednesday, scored his fifth goal of the season to give Pompey the lead in the 20th minute.

Hull defender Michael Turner equalised in the 54th minute with a header but Pompey’s England right-back Glen Johnson scored a stunning goal nine minutes later, blasting a strike past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill from 35 yards out.

However, there was a dramatic finish as Portsmouth defender Noe Pamarot headed the ball into his own net from a corner in the 89th minute.

Bolton pulled futher away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 away win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

The Trotters’ Iceland defender Gretar Rafn Steinsson headed in Matthew Taylor’s free kick in the eighth minute and then set up Taylor to score the second two minutes later.

Emanuel Pogatetz gave Boro a lifeline with a goal in the 77th minute but Sweden striker Johan Elmander restored Bolton’s two-goal lead just one minute later with a left-foot volley across goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.

In a dire game at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City beat visitors West Bromwich Albion 1-0 thanks to Mamady Sidibe’s headed goal six minutes from time.

The result leaves West Brom rooted to the bottom of the table.

In Sunday’s matches, Sunderland host West Ham and Blackburn travel to Tottenham.

– AFP /ls

Channel News Asia

LONDON – Arsenal’s woes worsened Saturday as they blew their chance to close the gap on English Premier League leaders Chelsea and Liverpool, who were held to goalless draws at home.

The imploding Gunners suffered their worst result of the season, as the top three were all held to goalless draws — top club Chelsea at home to Newcastle, second-placed Liverpool at home Fulham, and United away to Aston Villa.

Elsewhere, Portsmouth drew 2-2 with visitors Hull and Bolton grabbed a 3-1 win at Middlesbrough.

Arsenal are now in serious trouble with dressing-room strife matched by dismal results on the pitch.

William Gallas, reportedly stripped of the Gunners captaincy having blasted his team-mates in midweek for their lack of passion, was not even in the squad for the trip to Eastlands.

And the damage worsened in Manchester as Arsenal collapsed to a second straight defeat without scoring, leaving them 10 points off the Premier League pace in fourth place.

In the absence of Gallas, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia wore the skipper’s armband at Eastlands, but saw himself beaten three times as City moved up to 11th in the table.

In-form midfielder Stephen Ireland took advantage of a dreadful Gael Clichy clearance to score in the 45th minute.

And Brazil star Robinho scored a cheeky second in the 56th minute, chipping the ball over Almunia as the Spaniard came rushing out.

Two minutes after Daniel Sturridge came on as a substitute, Johan Djourou was adjudged to have brought him in the penalty box. Sturridge took the 90th penalty himself and scored to complete Arsenal’s misery.

Chelsea wasted a slew of goalscoring opportunities at Stamford Bridge as their once imperious home form took another knock with a 0-0 draw against strugglers Newcastle.

Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole missed the best chances for the hosts as Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech went relatively untroubled at the other end.

Joe Cole had the ball in the net for Chelsea but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Meanwhile, Spain striker Fernando Torres returned to the Liverpool starting line-up but took his complete failure to score at Anfield this season to a seventh straight game as his fledgling partnership with Robbie Keane failed to click once again.

Cottagers goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer made good saves from Keane, Lucas and Dirk Kuyt as mid-table Fulham earned a well-deserved point.

Third-placed Manchester United host Aston Villa in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Hull grabbed a last-gasp point at Fratton Park to deny Portsmouth victory.

Peter Crouch, who made a 28-second substitute appearance in England’s 2-1 win over Germany in Berlin on Wednesday, scored his fifth goal of the season to give Pompey the lead in the 20th minute.

Hull defender Michael Turner equalised in the 54th minute with a header but Pompey’s England right-back Glen Johnson scored a stunning goal nine minutes later, blasting a strike past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill from 35 yards out.

However, there was a dramatic finish as Portsmouth defender Noe Pamarot headed the ball into his own net from a corner in the 89th minute.

Bolton pulled futher away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 away win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

The Trotters’ Iceland defender Gretar Rafn Steinsson headed in Matthew Taylor’s free kick in the eighth minute and then set up Taylor to score the second two minutes later.

Emanuel Pogatetz gave Boro a lifeline with a goal in the 77th minute but Sweden striker Johan Elmander restored Bolton’s two-goal lead just one minute later with a left-foot volley across goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.

In a dire game at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City beat visitors West Bromwich Albion 1-0 thanks to Mamady Sidibe’s headed goal six minutes from time.

The result leaves West Brom rooted to the bottom of the table.

In Sunday’s matches, Sunderland host West Ham and Blackburn travel to Tottenham.

– AFP /ls

Channel News Asia

LONDON – Arsenal’s woes worsened Saturday as they blew their chance to close the gap on English Premier League leaders Chelsea and Liverpool, who were held to goalless draws at home.

The imploding Gunners suffered their worst result of the season, as the top three were all held to goalless draws — top club Chelsea at home to Newcastle, second-placed Liverpool at home Fulham, and United away to Aston Villa.

Elsewhere, Portsmouth drew 2-2 with visitors Hull and Bolton grabbed a 3-1 win at Middlesbrough.

Arsenal are now in serious trouble with dressing-room strife matched by dismal results on the pitch.

William Gallas, reportedly stripped of the Gunners captaincy having blasted his team-mates in midweek for their lack of passion, was not even in the squad for the trip to Eastlands.

And the damage worsened in Manchester as Arsenal collapsed to a second straight defeat without scoring, leaving them 10 points off the Premier League pace in fourth place.

In the absence of Gallas, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia wore the skipper’s armband at Eastlands, but saw himself beaten three times as City moved up to 11th in the table.

In-form midfielder Stephen Ireland took advantage of a dreadful Gael Clichy clearance to score in the 45th minute.

And Brazil star Robinho scored a cheeky second in the 56th minute, chipping the ball over Almunia as the Spaniard came rushing out.

Two minutes after Daniel Sturridge came on as a substitute, Johan Djourou was adjudged to have brought him in the penalty box. Sturridge took the 90th penalty himself and scored to complete Arsenal’s misery.

Chelsea wasted a slew of goalscoring opportunities at Stamford Bridge as their once imperious home form took another knock with a 0-0 draw against strugglers Newcastle.

Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole missed the best chances for the hosts as Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech went relatively untroubled at the other end.

Joe Cole had the ball in the net for Chelsea but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Meanwhile, Spain striker Fernando Torres returned to the Liverpool starting line-up but took his complete failure to score at Anfield this season to a seventh straight game as his fledgling partnership with Robbie Keane failed to click once again.

Cottagers goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer made good saves from Keane, Lucas and Dirk Kuyt as mid-table Fulham earned a well-deserved point.

Third-placed Manchester United host Aston Villa in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Hull grabbed a last-gasp point at Fratton Park to deny Portsmouth victory.

Peter Crouch, who made a 28-second substitute appearance in England’s 2-1 win over Germany in Berlin on Wednesday, scored his fifth goal of the season to give Pompey the lead in the 20th minute.

Hull defender Michael Turner equalised in the 54th minute with a header but Pompey’s England right-back Glen Johnson scored a stunning goal nine minutes later, blasting a strike past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill from 35 yards out.

However, there was a dramatic finish as Portsmouth defender Noe Pamarot headed the ball into his own net from a corner in the 89th minute.

Bolton pulled futher away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 away win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

The Trotters’ Iceland defender Gretar Rafn Steinsson headed in Matthew Taylor’s free kick in the eighth minute and then set up Taylor to score the second two minutes later.

Emanuel Pogatetz gave Boro a lifeline with a goal in the 77th minute but Sweden striker Johan Elmander restored Bolton’s two-goal lead just one minute later with a left-foot volley across goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.

In a dire game at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City beat visitors West Bromwich Albion 1-0 thanks to Mamady Sidibe’s headed goal six minutes from time.

The result leaves West Brom rooted to the bottom of the table.

In Sunday’s matches, Sunderland host West Ham and Blackburn travel to Tottenham.

– AFP /ls

Channel News Asia