LONDON, 7 December 2003 — Chelsea clung on to top spot in the Premier League yesterday despite being held 1-1 at Leeds United after second-placed Arsenal conceded a late equalizer to also draw 1-1 at Leicester City.
A 90th-minute goal for Leicester by Craig Hignett dramatically denied Arsenal, who had opened the scoring through Gilberto Silva and had defender Ashley Cole sent off, a valuable victory at the Walkers Stadium.
Chelsea stay a point clear of Arsene Wenger’s unbeaten team with 36 points after Damien Duff’s second-half equalizer gave them a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.
Champions Manchester United (34) are only a point behind Arsenal after thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 at Old Trafford.
Arsenal were without captain Patrick Vieira and striker Thierry Henry due to fitness problems for the trip to Leicester.
After a tight first half, Wenger’s team, who face a decisive Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday, broke the deadlock when Silva headed in a Dennis Bergkamp cross.
Cole was red-carded for a two-footed lunge at Ben Thatcher but Arsenal looked to have held on for a win that would have taken them back to the top until Hignett scrambled in Leicester’s leveler in the final seconds.
Wenger was critical of his side’s defending and told Sky Sports television: “We were not focused enough. We deserved to be punished.”
Chelsea were second best against Leeds in the first half of their top-versus-bottom clash. The home side deserved their lead, secured after 18 minutes when Jermaine Pennant took advantage of a rare Claude Makelele error and beat both John Terry and William Gallas before firing home.
The goal was on-loan Pennant’s first for Leeds and ended Chelsea’s run of seven games without conceding.
But Claudio Ranieri’s team improved in the second half and equalized when Damien Duff converted a rebound after Adrian Mutu’s shot was saved.
Champions United, with manager Alex Ferguson on the bench following a heart scare this week, had their game against Villa won by half-time thanks to Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman opened the scoring after a one-two with Kleberson in the 16th minute and grabbed his second with a sharp piece of control and a quick shot on the stroke of half-time.
Uruguayan substitute Diego Forlan then added two more virtuoso efforts in stoppage time to complete the rout.
Improved Fulham stayed fourth on 25 points after two goals in a minute by Sean Davis and Facundo Sava gave them a 2-1 victory over Bolton at Loftus Road.
Robbie Keane scored a fine hat trick in Tottenham Hotspur’s 5-2 mauling of visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were beaten 5-1 in north London by Arsenal in the League Cup on Tuesday. The defeat and Leeds’ point meant Wolves returned to the bottom of the table.
Blackburn also achieved a notable 4-0 victory at Birmingham City. Barry Ferguson, Lucas Neill, Tugay and Paul Gallagher all scored for Rovers in the second half.
Earlier yesterday Liverpool held Newcastle United to a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park. Danny Murphy opened the scoring but Alan Shearer earned Newcastle a deserved point from the penalty spot, his 13th league goal of the season.
Rangers Win but Still Trail
In Glasgow, Rangers remain five points behind leaders Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League after they resisted a spirited second-half display from Dundee United in a 2-1 home win yesterday.
Celtic picked up their 14th win out of 15 games with relative ease in a 2-0 victory at Livingston earlier in the day.
First-half goals for Rangers from Nuno Capucho (17) and Peter Lovenkrands (20) put the champions in control but United fought back and former Rangers striker Billy Dodds’ 56th-minute effort plunged the result into doubt during a hectic second half.
Brazilian Emerson had wasted the chance to ease concerns when he saw his penalty saved five minutes before half-time by keeper Paul Gallacher.
For Celtic, Chris Sutton (48) and Alan Thompson (85) netted which meant the club protected their unbeaten domestic record.
Celtic lead the standings with 43 points from 15 games while Rangers have 38. Hearts are third on 26 after a 2-1 defeat at Dunfermline, who are fourth on 23.
Celtic also turn their focus to Europe and need an away point against French champions Olympique Lyon on Wednesday to earn a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. But O’Neill has injury concerns for the Group A match. Scotland defender Jackie McNamara has a suspected dislocated shoulder and visited hospital for scans after their match while Dianbobo Balde has a back problem. Celtic are already without injured French winger Didier Agathe and the suspended Thompson.
Stuttgart Stay Top With Dull Draw
In Berlin, VfB Stuttgart retained the lead in the Bundesliga with a dull 0-0 home draw against Hamburg SV yesterday.
Stuttgart extended their unbeaten run to 15 games and stayed two points clear of second-placed Werder Bremen, who drew 1-1 at home with champions Bayern Munich.
It was the second consecutive goalless draw for Stuttgart, who showed little initiative in a game of few highlights.
“It was a very difficult match for us because Hamburg concentrated on defending,” said Stuttgart coach Felix Magath, whose team will advance to the knockout phase of the Champions League whatever the outcome of their final group game against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Brazilian striker Ailton put Werder ahead against Bayern with a penalty in the 58th minute but the visitors equalized when Peru forward Claudio Pizarro deflected a Willy Sagnol cross on 79 minutes.
Bayern stayed in fourth place six points off the pace after their final warm-up for Wednesday’s Champions League game at home against Anderlecht, which they have to win to survive the group phase of the competition. Bayer Leverkusen, who visit bottom club Cologne today, lie in third, four points behind Stuttgart.
Hertha Berlin drew 1-1 at Borussia Dortmund in the first game for caretaker coach Andreas Thom, who took over after Huub Stevens was sacked following Wednesday’s 6-1 thrashing by Werder Bremen in the German Cup.
