LONDON, 11 January 2004 — Arsenal knocked champions Manchester United off the top of the Premier League yesterday with a convincing 4-1 win over Middlesbrough at Highbury.

With United hosting Newcastle today, a Thierry Henry penalty, an own goal by Boro’s French defender Franck Queudrue and second-half strikes from Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg hoisted Arsenal top on alphabetical order.

The win, which gave Arsenal 49 points and identical goals scored and conceded to United, was a setback for third-place Chelsea, who are now seven points adrift of both their rivals before today’s game at Leicester City.

Charlton Athletic stayed fourth with a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool followed up a midweek win at Chelsea with a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa and Fulham, also chasing a Champions League slot, were 2-1 winners over Everton.

But the spotlight was inevitably turned on Highbury, where Arsenal played the first of four games in 19 days against the same opponents.

The outcome was a good omen for the home side, whose fluid attacking football was interrupted only when Boro’s Italian substitute Massimo Maccarone converted an 86th minute penalty.

Striker Jason Euell struck both goals for Charlton, while Liverpool’s win was secured by a Mark Delaney own goal that kept them fifth in the table, two points behind Charlton.

Manchester City extended their winless streak to 14 games with a 4-2 defeat at lowly Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers beat Blackburn Rovers 4-3 while Robbie Keane scored against his old club in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win at Leeds United.

Celtic Join Rangers in Scottish Cup Fourth Round

In Glasgow, Celtic scored twice in the last 16 minutes to join holders Rangers in the Scottish Cup fourth round after a 2-0 win over plucky first division Ross County.

Celtic will now visit Hearts while Rangers, who earlier extended their unbeaten cup record to 23 games with a 2-0 win at Hibernian, travel to Kilmarnock in the next round. The Premier League leaders produced an indifferent display but a header on 74 minutes from John Hartson — who appeared to foul defender Jim Lauchlan — and Paul Lambert’s strike five minutes later won a hard-fought encounter for Celtic.

Rangers quelled a spirited opening from Hibs, who lost midfielder Grant Brebner on 14 minutes with a broken arm, when Shota Arveladze scored after 35 minutes. Peter Lovenkrands got a second 14 minutes later after a surging run. Rangers have not lost a Scottish Cup or League Cup tie since Alex McLeish became manager in December 2001 but will be tested in the last 16 by 1987 Scottish Cup winners Kilmarnock, who won their third-round match 3-1 at Raith Rovers.

With Rangers trailing league leaders Celtic by 11 points after last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by their bitter Glasgow rivals, cup success has become more important.

In the other all-SPL ties, Dunfermline Athletic beat Dundee United 3-1, while Aberdeen and 10-man Dundee drew 0-0 and will replay at Dens Park on Jan. 21.

There were no major shocks yesterday although non-league Spartans won 4-1 at second division Arbroath and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who beat Celtic in their run to last year’s semifinals, walloped first division rivals Brechin City 5-1.

Paris St Germain Move Into Second

In Paris, an own goal from ex-Arsenal Greek defender Stathis Tavlaridis gave Paris St Germain a 1-0 win at home to Lille yesterday, hoisting them into second place in Ligue 1.

PSG are now on 38 points, seven adrift of leaders Monaco who defeated titleholders Olympique Lyon 3-0 on Friday in the first match after the winter break.

Lyon are third on 35 and under threat from Sochaux, in fourth and a point behind, who were entertaining Nice later.

PSG, who ended the first half of the season with a run of seven games without defeat, took the game to their opponents from the kickoff.