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Chelsea snap winless run as Wigan deny Arsenal

Florent Malouda arrived at the back post for Chelsea © PA Photos

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Chelsea finally ended their six-game winless run in the Premier League, beating Bolton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge thanks to a second-half strike from Florent Malouda. The Blues began the evening outside of the top four, seven points adrift of Manchester United, but they may finally have turned the corner heading into 2011.

Only in the inaugural Premier League season has a team gone seven games without victory - and gone on to lift the title. That team was Manchester United, but you cannot imagine Sir Alex Ferguson's side would have been so accommodating to Carlo Ancelotti's struggling outfit, who barely created a chance in the opening 45 minutes.

The Blues had Nicolas Anelka back in their starting XI, but it was Bolton who arguably enjoyed the better moments in a first half that did not produce a single shot on target. Ancelotti responded by sending his team out early from the half-time team talk, and it almost produced instant results as Didier Drogba came as close as anybody to breaking the deadlock.

The breakthrough eventually arrived on the hour and it was Drogba who supplied the assist, rolling the ball into the path of Malouda at the back post for a goal that brought relief around Stamford Bridge. Bolton called for an offside flag against Drogba, but that did not concern Ancelotti who greeted the goal with raised arms and pumped fists.

Nicklas Bendtner nudged Arsenal ahead © PA Photos

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Arsenal wasted the chance to head into the new year locked in a three-way tie with Manchester United and City at the top of the Premier League after their much-changed line-up drew 2-2 with 10-man Wigan at the DW Stadium. The Gunners trailed early to a Ben Watson penalty, but Andrei Arshavin appeared to have inspired a comeback, only to see Sebastien Squillaci divert the ball into his own net with nine minutes remaining.

Arsene Wenger made eight changes, only one of which was enforced, with Cesc Fabregas suspended following the recent victory over Chelsea. Perhaps most surprisingly, the name of Theo Walcott - so vital in that Chelsea win - dropped to the bench, where he sat alongside the Gunners' player of the season Samir Nasri.

Arsenal paid the price for those changes in the opening moments, with Wigan much the better side as Charles N'Zogbia tore into the visiting defence. Laurent Koscielny felled the winger on 17 minutes, and Watson made no mistake from the spot as Wigan took a deserved lead.

However, the Gunners found a reply five minutes before half-time, and it was a goal out of the blue from Arshavin, who produced a magical acrobatic volley to get his side back on level terms. Not satisfied there, the Russian then drove at Wigan again, setting up Nicklas Bendtner as Arsenal turned the game on its head before the interval.

Arsenal largely opted for a possession game in the second period, and their task appeared to have been made easier with 12 minutes remaining as N'Zogbia rightly received a red card for aiming a headbutt in the direction of Jack Wilshere. However, just two minutes later Antolin Alcaraz caused chaos at a set-piece and Squillaci sent the ball beyond his own goalkeeper.

Fernando Torres cut a dejected figure for Liverpool © PA Photos

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Roy Hodgson's position as Liverpool manager is under even greater pressure after the Reds were deservedly beaten 1-0 by Wolves at Anfield. Hodgson's men are now 12 points adrift of the Champions League places, and have won just six of 18 league games this season, while Wolves move off the bottom with victory.

Fit-again captain Steven Gerrard started for the first time since the 2-0 defeat to Stoke on November 13, an absence during which Liverpool won two of six matches without their skipper. His return made little difference, with Hodgson's strangely narrow line-up absolutely toothless in front of a bewildered Kop.

Liverpool could have led after seven minutes when Fernando Torres' 40-yard diagonal ball put Raul Meireles clean in on goal, but the Portugal international sent his left-footed effort directly at goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. After that, all of the best moments came from Wolves, and twice Glen Johnson was forced into last-ditch interventions in a first half that saw Hodgson's side scratching around for ideas.

The Liverpool manager's decision to name a side lacking any type of width did not help his cause, and Wolves continued to look the more dangerous team after half-time, with Ronald Zubar forcing a full-stretch save from Pepe Reina.

When the goal arrived it was no surprise that it went Wolves' way, with Stephen Ward bursting into the box unopposed to poke the ball under Reina. Moments later it should have been 2-0 as Kevin Foley powered into an identical position, only to see his shot deflected behind for a corner.

The biggest cheer of the night from the home fans came when Paul Konchesky was replaced by Fabio Aurelio late on, and signs of "Bring back Rafa" were evident as the full-time whistle sounded.

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