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Bendtner strikes in the Nick of time for Arsenal

Didier Drogba is catching Wayne Rooney in the goalscoring charts © Getty Images

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Saturday football gallery

Arsenal are up to second in the Premier League title race after Nicklas Bendtner struck two minutes into injury time to hand the Gunners a 2-1 victory over 10-man Hull.

Arsene Wenger's men had looked destined to slump to a disappointing draw as the fourth official lifted his board displaying six minutes of injury time at the KC Stadium. However, Boaz Myhill found Denilson's late shot too hot to handle, parrying it directly into the path of Bendtner who capped off a wonderful week for player and club.

Andrey Arshavin had earlier given Arsenal a 14th-minute lead, but the Gunners were pegged back after Sol Campbell gifted Hull a penalty. Bullard slammed the spot kick into the top corner, and Hull looked more than a match for their rivals.

However, George Boateng was deservedly sent off for two bookable offences, and Bendtner made Hull pay right at the death.

Chelsea returned to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday with a 4-1 victory over West Ham, but only after Gianfranco Zola's men gave them a fright at Stamford Bridge.

Robbed of first-choice goalkeepers Petr Cech and Hilario, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti would have been concerned to see Ilan afforded an early chance for the visitors, but West Ham's Brazilian forward missed the target from seven yards.

Chelsea capitalised immediately through Alex's towering header, but they were pegged back by half time thanks to a stunning long-range strike. Nobody closed down Scott Parker as he advanced towards stand-in 'keeper Ross Turnbull, and the England midfielder let fly with a rasping drive that stunned Stamford Bridge.

However, Chelsea kept pressing, knowing that victory would temporarily lift them above Manchester United, and Didier Drogba latched onto a Florent Malouda assist to send them on their way to a crucial three points. Malouda, who was the outstanding player of the day, then got on the scoresheet himself to wrap up the victory before Drogba pounced for his 21st league goal of the season.

Roman Pavlyuchenko's rich vein of form continued as he helped Tottenham to a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers that reinforced their position in fourth in the table.

The Russian, overlooked for so long this season, fired a shot that dipped in front of Jason Brown to leave the keeper, who was on as a substitute for Paul Robinson, with egg on his face.

The goal handed Spurs a cushion after Jermain Defoe had slotted home from close range following a corner. Chris Samba set up a grandstand finish with a towering header with 10 minutes left on the clock, but Pavlyuchenko snuffed out Rovers' thoughts of a point with a neat finish as Spurs held on for a vital win.

Aston Villa are now six points behind Spurs in the race for fourth spot after they could only draw 0-0 with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Martin O'Neill's men still have two games in hand over Tottenham, but Villa will be left to rue a late James Milner free kick that so nearly rippled the back of Thomas Sorensen's net.

At the bottom, things are looking increasingly bleak for Burnley, who lost 2-1 at home to relegation rivals Wolves. Victory lifts Wolves three points clear of their Turf Moor counterparts, with a game in hand, and the scoreline could have had a more lop-sided look had Mick McCarthy's men taken their chances.

Matthew Jarvis punished a woeful header by Tyrone Mears to slide the opening goal past Brian Jensen, although Burnley should have been level by half time. David Nugent swivelled and volleyed from close range, but his strike bounced up onto the crossbar when he really should have done better.

Wolves heeded the warning, doubling their advantage just two minutes after the interval as blunder defender Clarke Carlisle once again drove a hole into Burnley's survival hopes. Adlene Guedioura launched a speculative shot for the visitors, and Carlisle's unfortunate deflection only succeeded in deceiving his own goalkeeper. Steven Thompson's predatory strike halved the deficit with 20 minutes remaining, but Wolves held on.

Bolton will consider themselves all-but-safe after they smashed Wigan 4-0 at the Reebok Stadium. Gary Caldwell had an absolute nightmare for Roberto Martinez's men, conceding a penalty and handing Bolton their fourth as Wigan slide towards the drop zone.

Martinez will wonder if things could have been different after Hugo Rodallega was denied a huge penalty shout at 0-0, but Bolton were well worth their victory. Johan Elmander opened the scoring with his first goal in 12 league matches after Wigan failed to clear inside their own area, and strike partner Kevin Davies doubled that lead from the spot after Caldwell's foul on Tamir Cohen.

Fabrice Muamba then produced a rare strike, dazzling his marker to fire across Chris Kirkland for 3-0. And it was left to Caldwell to hand Bolton their final goal, inadvertently setting up Matthew Taylor for the Trotters' fourth.

There were four goals at St Andrew's too, but Everton can only have themselves to blame as they allowed a two-goal lead to slip away as Birmingham fought back for a 2-2 draw.

David Moyes' side were excellent in the first 20 minutes, taking the lead through Victor Anichebe's first goal in 26 appearances. Spinning superbly on the edge of the area, Anichebe unleashed a stunning left foot drive into the top corner to leave Joe Hart no chance.

Ayegbeni Yakubu then made it 2-0 after Steven Pienaar's cross cut out the entire Blues defence, but within four minutes the home side had halved the deficit thanks to Cameron Jerome's eighth of the season. Former Aston Villa man Craig Gardner then notched his first league goal for the club to restore parity, but nobody could find a winner.

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