Arsenal’s rivals make it easier for Gunners

Chelsea and Manchester United helped Arsenal’s unbeaten surge towards the Premier League title on Saturday when champions United were b...

Chelsea and Manchester United helped Arsenal’s unbeaten surge towards the Premier League title on Saturday when champions United were beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth and second-placed Chelsea drew 0-0 at home with Everton.

Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing of Leeds United on Friday, on the back of four goals from French striker Thierry Henry, had put them 10 points ahead of Chelsea, who play Monaco in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday.

The leaders now need just four points from their last five games to win their 13th title.

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Arsenal (81 points) and United (68) have five games remaining, Chelsea (72) just four. The match between Chelsea and United at Old Trafford on May 8 could decide which team finishes second to qualify directly for the Champions League group stage. Chelsea should have won by several goals against Everton but strikers Adrian Mutu and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink missed a hatful of chances while Frank Lampard hit the bar in the first half. ‘

United also dominated possession at Portsmouth but a Steve Stone goal in the 36th minute was enough to guarantee the South coast club’s first victory over United for 47 years. It also pulled Portsmouth away from the relegation struggle.

Liverpool’s Champions League aspirations were hurt by a 0-0 draw with Fulham at Anfield where Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard had a penalty saved by Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar .

In the relegation battle, Blackburn Rovers beat fellow strugglers Leicester City 1-0 and bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Middlesbrough 2-0.

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Blackburn had not won any of their last nine games at homeand manager Graeme Souness said the win, thanks to an own goal from Greek defender Nikos Dabizas, had been a huge relief.

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur slipped towards the drop zone, City going down 3-1 at home to Southampton and Spurs falling 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers.

City are in the deeper trouble with 34 points, two more than Leeds who are in 18th place, the final relegation spot. Leicester and Wolves both have 28 points. (Reuters)