LONDON - Ten-man Chelsea roared back from a goal down to trounce West Ham United 4-1 and move closer to a second consecutive Premier League title yesterday, despite a 2-0 win for Manchester United over Arsenal.
With five games left, champions Chelsea have 82 points - seven more than second-placed
United after England striker Wayne Rooney scored one and made the other for South Korean Park Ji-sung at Old Trafford.
Third-placed Liverpool stay five points behind United, having played a game more, after striker Robbie Fowler celebrated his 31st birthday with the winner in a 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. Newcastle United beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside in the northeast derby, while the Midlands derby finished 0-0 between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.
United's victory provided a rousing finale to the weekend's action and dealt a body blow to sixth-placed Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
But Chelsea, who face United at home at Stamford Bridge on April 30, stayed on course for another title.
James Collins headed West Ham into a 10th minute lead and Chelsea's Portugal midfielder Maniche was red-carded six minutes later for a rash tackle on Lionel Scaloni.
Jose Mourinho's 10 men rose to the challenge, with Ivorian Didier Drogba levelling in the 29th minute and Argentine Hernan Crespo putting them ahead two minutes later.
Goals from defenders John Terry and William Gallas put the London derby beyond doubt in the second half.
Mourinho said afterwards: "We had so much of the game it looked like we had 12 players."
Defeat for Arsenal leaves them further away from qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Liverpool have one slot in the qualifiers and the other is held by fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have 58 points.
Blackburn Rovers are fifth on 54, a point ahead of Arsenal, who have a game in hand and play Portsmouth on Thursday.
Arsenal face Villarreal in the semifinals of this season's Champions League.
- REUTERS
