Arsenal clear as Ferguson sees red

LONDON, England -- Arsenal moved three points clear at the top of the English Premier League after closest rivals Manchester United suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Bolton on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal team, who have played one less match than United, needed two late goals to end the challenge of struggling Wigan, winning 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in north London.

Captain William Gallas made the breakthrough in the 83rd minute with a powerful header from Bakary Sagna's cross, while Tomas Rosicky fired in off the post two minutes later after being set up by substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

Young Denmark international Bendtner had come on for Theo Walcott, who was stretchered off in the second half after a tackle by Wigan substitute Emile Heskey.

England forward Heskey made his comeback after two months out with a broken foot, with caretaker manager Frank Barlow in charge of second-bottom Athletic before new boss Steve Bruce takes over on Monday.

Wenger, who was missing midfielders Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini, said: "Wigan defended absolutely brilliantly for 90 minutes but we managed to find the special resources we have.

"This team has great mental strength. They really want and they are hungry."

United had manager Alex Ferguson sent to the stands at half-time, with his side trailing to former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka's eight goal this season.

The Scot was furious after seeing several heavy tackles on his players -- Kevin Davies was lucky not to be sent off for his challenges on full-back Patrice Evra -- and remonstrated with the official in the tunnel at the interval.

"They set an aggressive tone and we needed some protection from the referee but we didn't get it," Ferguson said.

"The first half was a shambles. It was just foul, after foul, after foul and we became embroiled ourselves. I don't know if they targeted Patrice Evra but there were some terrible tackles on him.

"I told him exactly what I thought and he didn't like it. Some referees don't like the truth. I just told him how bad I thought he was in the first half."

France forward Anelka celebrated his return to club action following a hamstring injury, scoring in the 11th minute after young defender Gerard Pique completely missed Ivan Campo's free-kick.

Pique, standing in for the injured Nemanja Vidic, was replaced after 65 minutes as United desperately sought an equalizer.

Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to tip over a free-kick from Owen Hargreaves, and Carlos Tevez missed a sitter from close range following Evra's low cross as Bolton held on to move a point clear of the relegation zone.

It was the first victory for manager Gary Megson in seven games in charge.

Manchester City snatched a late 2-1 victory against Reading to reclaim third place from Liverpool, who beat Newcastle 3-0 in the midday match.

Stephen Ireland scored a stunning volley in injury-time to maintain City's perfect home record and leave Sven Goran Eriksson's side just one point behind local rivals United.

Midfielder Ireland was involved in the build-up as Bulgaria winger Martin Petrov scored an 11th-minute opener for City, and Elano hit the post for the hosts before James Harper leveled just before half-time from Bobby Convey's cut-back.

Chelsea won 2-0 at bottom club Derby in the late match to move above Liverpool and take fourth place, despite having midfielder Michael Essien sent off.

Ghana midfielder Essien was dismissed by referee Andre Marriner for elbowing Derby striker Kenny Miller in the 90th minute after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Salomon Kalou, who started in place of injured fellow Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba, scored the opener in the 17th minute from Steve Sidwell's pass.

Miller had a goal unluckily ruled out for offside before winger Shaun Wright-Phillips scored his first goal for Chelsea since April, following up from close range after England team-mate Frank Lampard's shot hit the post in the 73rd minute.

Derby were aggrieved by a tackle from behind on Giles Barnes by Andrei Shevchenko in the build-up, and tempers flared before Essien saw red.

Chelsea captain John Terry made his comeback from injury after missing Wednesday's defeat by Croatia, but was booed by the Derby fans along with Lampard and Wright-Phillips in scenes which were mirrored at grounds around the country following England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

Portsmouth claimed sixth place as manager Harry Redknapp celebrated his 200th Premier League game in charge with a 2-0 win away to managerless Birmingham.

Debutant goalkeeper Richard Kingson allowed Sulley Muntari's weak shot to slip under his body in the 34th minute and Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar smashed in an 82nd-minute free-kick.

Birmingham, seeking to replace the departed Bruce, were left just a point above the bottom three.

Everton thrashed Sunderland 7-1 at Goodison Park, with in-form Australia midfielder Tim Cahill scoring twice and Nigeria striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu also netting a brace.

Cahill has scored five goals in seven games since he returned from a broken foot as Everton extended their unbeaten in run to seven matches.

Steven Pienaar smashed in the third after 43 minutes before Roy Keane's struggling Sunderland pulled one back through Dwight Yorke, while Andy Johnson and Leon Osman completed the rout after Cahill and Yakubu grabbed their second goals.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill ended a week of speculation over whether he was interested in the England job by seeing his side win 3-0 away to Middlesbrough.

The Northern Irishman, who said he did not want to replace the sacked Steve McClaren, led his side up to seventh place with England midfielder Gareth Barry setting up Norway striker John Carew for the opener on the stroke of half-time.

Defender Olof Mellberg scored his first goal since August 2006 in the 48th minute, before England Under-21 striker Gabriel Agbonlahor sealed the win 10 minutes later.

In Sunday's action, West Ham and Tottenham meet in a London derby, while Fulham host Blackburn. E-mail to a friend

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