LONDON, 25 August 2003 — Sylvain Wiltord scored twice as Arsenal romped to a 4-0 win at Middlesbrough today that put them level with champions Manchester United at the top of the English Premier League.

Arsenal and United, who have an identical goal difference of five, and Chelsea are the only sides on maximum points after two matches. United and Chelsea both won 2-1 on Saturday, at Newcastle United and at home to Leicester City respectively.

Aston Villa and Liverpool picked up their first points of the season in an entertaining 0-0 draw at Villa Park earlier today.

Striker Thierry Henry put Arsenal in front in the fifth minute with a low right-foot shot after Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer had pushed away Freddie Ljungberg’s attempt.

Brazil’s Gilberto increased the lead when he drove home a low shot from a Robert Pires pass and Arsenal went three up when Wiltord scored from Henry’s cross from the left.

Wiltord made it four on the hour. Defender Sol Campbell sent a fine low ball up to the unmarked Ljungberg who broke through the defense on the right to square it for Wiltord to side-foot the ball into the roof of the net.

Middlesbrough’s Brazilian playmaker Juninho hit a fine left footed shot that brought a good diving save from Arsenal’s German keeper Jens Lehmann midway through the second half.

Boro paraded their new loan signings Gaizka Mendieta of Spain and England’s Danny Mills before kickoff but neither played.

At Villa Park, the goalkeepers had plenty of work and made some outstanding saves as both sides created numerous chances, with Liverpool’s new forward Harry Kewell guilty of a glaring miss in the 10th minute.

Villa’s Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen parried El Hadji Diouf’s volley from the right in the 10th minute and Kewell had only to turn the rebound into the net. But the Australian misdirected the ball just wide with his weaker right foot.

Villa, marginally the better side, were unlucky when Colombian forward Juan Pablo Angel’s curling free kick on the hour came back off the top of Jerzy Dudek’s near post. Sorensen made a brilliant flying save seven minutes later to tip Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy’s shot over the bar when it was heading for the top corner.

Villa midfielder Gareth Barry was wide of the far post with a low shot in the 73rd from Vassell’s square pass.

Bayern Cruise to 2-0 Victory Over Hamburg

Bayern Munich posted an easy 2-0 victory over Hamburg SV today with goals from Claudio Pizarro and Elber in a match that marked the 40th anniversary of the Bundesliga.

Claiming their third win in four matches, champions Bayern moved into second place in the standings just behind Werder Bremen and ahead of VfB Stuttgart — all three teams on 10 points and separated only by goal difference.

Pizarro put Bayern ahead in the 14th minute with his fourth goal of the season, which seemed to take the life out of a Hamburg side lacking confidence after an unexpectedly weak start. Hamburg were reduced to 10 when Collin Benjamin was sent off in the 52nd minute. Elber sealed victory in the 78th minute shortly after coming off the substitutes’ bench.