Arsenal have gone clear at the top of the Premiership for the first time this year after a narrow 1-0 victory over Derby at Highbury this evening. Arsene Wenger's men eventually overcame a stubborn Derby side through Robert Pires' 69th minute strike. The win leaves the Gunners two points ahead of title rivals Manchester United, with both teams having played the same number of games.
It looked like it could have been one of those evenings for Arsenal when Derby managed to repel everything the London side could throw at them in the first half. Goalkeeper Matthew Oakes saved efforts by Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord, while Paul Boertien cleared another Campbell header off the line. Derby had some chances themselves, the best of which fell to Malcolm Christie, but the sides remained deadlocked at the interval.
Arsenal should have gone ahead shortly after the restart but Henry uncharacteristically volleyed over from only six yards. The French striker then saw an effort come back off the post before his compatriot, midfielder Robert Pires, broke the deadlock when he surged through the Derby defence and poked the ball past Oakes. Henry should have sealed the win in the dying minutes but despite some more uncharacteristic profligacy, Arsenal hung on for the victory that puts them in the driving seat in the race for the Premiership title.
In tonight's other top flight clashes, Sunderland increased Bolton's relegation worries thanks to a first-half strike by Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason McAteer, while Blackburn netted three vital points in their battle to avoid the drop with a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa. In the Nationwide Division One, Manchester City moved to within two points of leaders Wolves with a 2-1 victory over Birmingham at St Andrew's.
Filed by Tom Grealis
