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Arsenal go top as Everton prolong Chelsea's agony

Nicolas Anelka won the Chelsea penalty © PA Photos

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Chelsea were given a huge helping hand by Manchester United old boy Phil Neville, but they still could not end their winless run as Arsenal moved to the top of the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.

The defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton after Jermaine Beckford levelled Didier Drogba's opener with five minutes remaining. The result means Chelsea have now gone four league games without a win.

Carlo Ancelotti was boosted by the returns of John Terry and Michael Essien on Saturday, and his skipper almost scored a wonderful opener, looping a clever volley against the bar with Tim Howard well beaten. Everton were looking dangerous on the break, but the best first-half moments came from the home side as Salomon Kalou sent a free header wide of the far post.

Much as they had done at Birmingham, Chelsea were missing chances, so they were grateful when Neville played Anelka clean through, forcing Howard to bring the Frenchman down to receive a generous yellow card. Drogba, who had almost come off moments earlier with a groin problem, slammed home from the spot to ease Chelsea nerves.

Everton had not arrived to make up the numbers though, and they came within inches of levelling the scores on the hour when Beckford, on for the injured Louis Saha, sent a glancing header against the inside of Petr Cech's far post. Chelsea appeared set to hang on for an undeserved three points, but Beckford headed home from close range after a wonderful run by Leighton Baines to increase the pressure on Ancelotti.

Samir Nasri scored two wonder goals for Arsenal © Getty Images

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Arsenal's defence threw up yet more question marks at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but Samir Nasri produced two moments of magic to help Arsene Wenger's men to the top of the table with a 2-1 victory over Fulham. The Gunners had already lost three home league games this season, and Fulham threatened a fourth before Nasri's intervention in an entertaining encounter.

Nasri and Andrei Arshavin turned on the style in the opening stages in North London, with the Frenchman scoring a beauty as he turned two Fulham defenders inside-out before lashing home with his left foot. The goal was Nasri's tenth of an excellent season, helping to fill the void left by Cesc Fabregas' absence.

However, the pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci continues to look penetrable at the back, and Diomansy Kamara capitalised to level the scores on the half hour. Kamara could have put Fulham ahead by half-time too, but on this occasion Lukasz Fabianski rescued his side in a one-on-one situation.

The inevitable Arsenal siege came in the second half, and a winner finally arrived 15 minutes from time as Nasri dribbled past the entire Fulham defence, including the goalkeeper, before swivelling marvellously to find the net from a tight angle.

Carlos Tevez scored after four minutes © PA Photos

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Ten-man Manchester City moved to within two points of their Old Trafford neighbours with a fast-paced 1-0 victory over Bolton. Following a training ground spat on Friday, City boss Roberto Mancini started both Jerome Boateng and Mario Balotelli at Eastlands, but it was "Mr Reliable" Carlos Tevez who made the difference.

Occupying both centre-backs, Tevez moved off the shoulder of Gary Cahill to latch onto Yaya Toure's superbly-timed through-ball, and the Argentinian kept a cool head to place the ball into the corner past Jussi Jaaskelainen. City did not have things all their own way though, with Bolton controlling large parts of the first half, but Tevez did almost find a second for his team before the break only to see his effort chalked off for offside against Gareth Barry.

The second period was full of chances for either side, but it was City who looked the more likely to trouble the scorers again, with David Silva turning and striking brilliantly only to see his effort rebound off the bar. Mancini's men did have to finish the match with ten men when Aleksandar Kolarov was sent off for a second bookable offence, but victory lifts City to within three points of top spot.

Tottenham are three points outside the Champions League places after they threw away a lead at St Andrew's, where Birmingham have lost just once in 14 months. Harry Redknapp's men produced some inspired football against Alex McLeish's side, but ended up with a 1-1 draw.

The opening goal came from the unlikely figure of Sebastien Bassong, who drilled home after Gareth Bale's free-kick was spilled by Ben Foster. However, Blues grew into the match, and they found an equaliser nine minutes from time through Craig Gardner.

David Dunn opened the scoring for Blackburn © PA Photos

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Wolves slipped to the bottom of the Premier League table, despite West Ham not even kicking a ball, after Mick McCarthy's side were beaten 3-0 by Blackburn. Wolves had lost their last six away league games, and they failed to improve that record at Ewood Park.

David Dunn made the breakthrough for Rovers from a set-piece, diverting the ball home after Ryan Nelsen won a header at the back post. It was tough on Wolves who hit the woodwork twice in the space of 60 seconds through Nenad Milijas and George Elokobi, but by half-time they were facing a huge uphill task thanks to a delightful bending effort from Brett Emerton.

Sam Allardyce has never lost a match against Wolves, and that record was kept intact as Morten Gamst Pedersen, rejuvenated this season, sent over a wicked free-kick that was nodded home by Nelsen.

In the day's other game, Wigan and Stoke put on something of a thriller at the DW Stadium, producing a surprisingly high-scoring 2-2 draw. The result leaves Athletic in the relegation zone while Stoke stay in the top half.

Robert Huth began the goal-spree when his free-kick took a huge deflection past Ali Al-Habsi, but Danny Collins then got on the scoresheet at the wrong end from Ben Watson's free-kick. Parity lasted only a minute as Matthew Etherington continued his good form with Stoke's second, but Tom Cleverley added to his growing reputation with an equaliser before half-time.

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