England round-up: Arsenal join United on top

Two goals from Sylvain Wiltord helped Arsenal FC move joint-top of the English Premiership with a 4-0 away win against Middlesbrough FC on Sunday.

Healthy win
Arsenal climbed level with Manchester United FC with the healthy victory, set up after early goals from Thierry Henry and Gilberto Silva. The only other side to have started their league campaign with back-to-back wins is Chelsea FC, who sit in third place.

Early start
It took just five minutes for Henry to find the target, pouncing on Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer's parry to tuck in at the far post. Eight minutes later Gilberto doubled the lead, drilling in a Robert Pires cross from 16 metres. Wiltord's double either side of half-time piled on the misery for the home side, who have conceded seven goals in their opening two matches.

Goalless draw
A point ahead of Middlesbrough in the table, Liverpool FC and Aston Villa FC are still searching for their first wins after playing out an entertaining goalless draw at Villa Park. Both sides had good chances - Harry Kewell could have given Liverpool a first-half lead but shot wide with the goal at his mercy, and Juan Pablo Angel saw his 63rd-minute free-kick strike an upright.

Perfect ten
United had continued their winning start to the season with a 2-1 win away to Newcastle United FC early on Saturday afternoon. Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooij scored for the tenth successive league game to equal an English scoring record established by Liverpool FC's John Aldridge in 1987.

Home advantage
The home side enjoyed the best of the early exchanges in an entertaining game, and took the lead in the 26th minute as French winger Laurent Robert's free-kick was headed powerfully into the net by Alan Shearer.

Second-half turnaround
However, the match turned in United's favour early in the second period, as Roy Keane's through-ball released Van Nistelrooij to equalise six minutes after half-time. Eight minutes later, United scored what proved to be the winning goal, as Keane's cross was chested into the net at the far post by Paul Scholes.

Maximum points
Later on Saturday, Chelsea defeated Leicester City FC 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. The home side got off to a perfect start as an own goal from Lilian Nalis gave them a third-minute lead.

Debut goal
However, James Scowcroft headed a free-kick into the net five minutes before the interval to bring Leicester level, only for Romanian international forward Adrian Mutu to restore the home side's lead on the stroke of half-time with a goal on his debut. The game was marked by three dismissals, with Chelsea midfield player Geremi and Alan Rogers and Ricardo Scimeca of Leicester all shown the red card.

Blackburn fight back
Blackburn Rovers FC recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Bolton Wanderers FC, with goals in the first 25 minutes from Youri Djorkaeff and Kevin Davies putting the home side in control. Matt Jansen's strike early in the second half gave hope to the visitors, who had Steven Reid sent off late in the game but salvaged a draw through Dwight Yorke's late header.

Three-goal cushion
First-half goals from Gary Naysmith, David Unsworth and Steve Watson gave Everton FC a three-goal cushion at home to Fulham FC, whose only response came through Barry Hayles.

Charlton in command
Charlton Athletic FC also produced a dominant first-half display, with goals from Jason Euell, Claus Jensen and two from Shaun Bartlett sealing all three points in the first 45 minutes at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, although Charlton's Scott Parker was sent off in the second half.

Last-gasp equaliser
A 90th-minute goal from David Sommeil prevented Portsmouth FC winning the first league game at Manchester City FC's new City of Manchester stadium, with the visitors having taken the lead through Yakubu Ayegbeni. Tottenham Hotspur FC recovered from the setback of an early Alan Smith strike to defeat Leeds United AFC, with goals from Mauricio Taricco and Freddie Kanouté, while Southampton FC and Birmingham City FC drew 0-0.