LONDON, 22 February 2004 — Arsenal took a firm grip on the premier league yesterday with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea that dealt a hammer blow to the big-spending west London club’s title chances.

Arsenal’s come-from-behind win at Stamford Bridge extended their lead to seven points over Manchester United, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home by relegation-threatened Leeds United in another lunchtime kickoff.

Paul Scholes fired United ahead on 64 minutes but a fine header from Alan Smith three minutes later restored parity. It was Arsenal’s second victory over Chelsea inside a week following their 2-1 FA Cup fifth round win yesterday and Claudio Ranieri’s side are nine points adrift in third place.

Chelsea now face a seemingly insurmountable task to reward billionaire owner Roman Abramovich with a league title in his first season at the club. With 12 matches to go Arsenal have 64 points, followed by United on 57 and Chelsea on 55.

Asked if the defeat had ended Chelsea’s title hopes, Ranieri told Sky Sports: “Yes, at this moment. I think nine points are too much (to make up). But we must continue to build and we must not give up.”

Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, sent off on the hour for a second booking, fired Chelsea ahead after just 27 seconds but replies in the first 21 minutes from Patrick Vieira and Edu gave Arsenal the points.

Arsene Wenger’s side, unbeaten in 26 league games since the start of the season, are now closing in on the record of 29 held by Leeds (1973-74) and Liverpool (1987-88). United, beaten 3-2 at home by Middlesbrough in their last league game at Old Trafford, were frustrated for long periods by battling Leeds.

The introduction of captain Roy Keane, surprisingly left on the bench at the start, gave United renewed impetus and they broke the deadlock when Gary Neville’s cross-shot was spilled by Scott Carson, in for the suspended Paul Robinson, and Scholes thumped home.

The lead lasted just three minutes, Didier Domi’s cross from the left allowing Smith to outjump John O’Shea and head home.

Newcastle United moved into fourth on 41 points after a late penalty from Alan Shearer gave Bobby Robson’s side a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough. Manchester City eased the pressure on boss Kevin Keegan, a 3-1 win at Bolton Wanderers securing their first league success in 15 games stretching back to Nov. 1.

West Bromwich Albion closed the gap on first division leaders Norwich to three points after beating Sheffield United 2-1 yesterday. Norwich have 63 points from 32 games after drawing 1-1 at home to West Ham in a match where the visitors had Matthew Etherington sent off for a second offence when he repeatedly failed to correctly place the ball for a corner kick.

Second-placed West Brom went behind to United on 57 minutes when Darren Moore put the goal into his own net but he made amends 13 minutes later with the equalizer. Skipper Thomas Gaardsoe clinched the victory with a goal five minutes from time.

Bottom club Wimbledon suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, losing 3-0 against Coventry City.

Second-from-bottom Bradford beat Crewe 2-1 thanks to a 79th-minute goal from Ronnie Wallwork but they are still five points behind the club above them, Nottingham Forest, who drew 1-1 at Rotherham.

Rangers Avenge League Cup Defeat by Hibernian

Rangers beat Hibernian 3-0 in the Scottish Premier League yesterday to avenge their recent League Cup semifinal defeat by the Edinburgh side.

The Scottish champions lost on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time two weeks ago but hit back to cut the gap on runaway leaders Celtic, who play bottom club Partick Thistle today, to 10 points. Shota Arveladze and Steven Thompson converted penalties early and late in the game, with striker Michael Mols, a substitute like Thompson, grabbing Rangers’ second goal midway through the second half.

Arveladze was one of four players to miss in the semifinal shootout against Hibs but made no mistake after being felled by French defender Mathias Doumbe in the opening moments.

Mols hammered a second to give the home side breathing space before Thompson, who replaced Arveladze, netted a penalty after Roland Edge fouled Fernando Ricksen.

In other games, third-placed Hearts moved six points ahead of Dunfermline Athletic with a 3-1 home win over Dundee United. Dunfermline, in fourth, lost 2-0 at Aberdeen who enjoyed only their second clean sheet of the league season.

Motherwell beat Kilmarnock 1-0 and Dundee also chalked up a 1-0 win over Livingston.

Bayern Close Bundesliga Gap Before Facing Real

Bayern Munich secured a morale-boosting win before facing Real Madrid by battling to a 1-0 home victory over Hamburg SV in the Bundesliga yesterday. The champions stayed second in the standings but closed the gap on Werder Bremen to seven points.

Werder, chasing a fourth German title and their first since 1993, were held to a 0-0 draw at Schalke 04. Argentine defender Martin Demichelis hit the winner with three minutes left in Bayern’s last game before the opening leg of their Champions League first knockout round tie at home to Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Third-placed VfB Stuttgart, who host Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, prepared in poor fashion, dropping 10 points off the pace with a 1-0 defeat at lowly Kaiserslautern.