Cole keeps Arsenal on top

By Jonathan Caswell

England's four UEFA Champions League challengers all won ahead of their midweek matches, with Arsenal FC ending Saturday back on top of the Premiership after Chelsea FC had briefly usurped them.

Surprise goalscorer
Arsenal's winning goal at Manchester City FC came from an unlikely source, Ashley Cole, who scored in the 14th minute. The victory lifted the champions up to 19 points and saw them reclaim the league leadership from Chelsea, who maintained their unbeaten record with a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough FC earlier in the day.

Drogba winner
Didier Drogba settled the match in the 81st minute when latching on to Frank Lampard's free-kick and scoring with a deflected shot. "Some of the players are saying that one day a team will be unlucky, we will score from every single situation and it will be 4-0 or 5-0," said victorious coach José Mourinho.

United climb
Manchester United FC were also 1-0 winners, beating Tottenham Hotspur FC at White Hart Lane courtesy of a Ruud van Nistelrooij penalty in the first half. The three points moved Sir Alex Ferguson's side up to fourth, their highest position of the season. Liverpool FC's win against Norwich City FC was more comfortable. An excellent Milan Baroš strike after 23 minutes was followed up by Luís Garcia three minutes later and Djibril Cissé sealed the win for the Merseysiders just after the hour.

Ten men
UEFA Cup hopefuls Newcastle United FC produced a fine second-half display to defeat West Bromich Albion FC 3-1. Patrick Kluivert scored the opener on 70 minutes and James Milner and Alan Shearer added further goals. Geoff Horsfield scored a consolation for West Brom, who ended the game with ten men after Darren Purse saw red.

Record extended
Aston Villa FC extended their record of not having been beaten by Crystal Palace FC to 14 matches as an early Andy Johnson goal was cancelled out by a rare strike from Villa's Lee Hendrie nine minutes from the break. Tomas Radzinski headed his first goal for Fulham FC as the Londoners ran out 1-0 winners against Southampton FC, while Bolton Wanderers FC and Birmingham City FC drew 1-1 in the late game.