Arsenal have hammered Leeds United 4-1 to stay top of the premier league but there was no let-up in the pressure as champions Manchester United and title rivals Chelsea both clocked up victories.

Thierry Henry scored twice and Robert Pires and Gilberto grabbed one apiece at Elland Road on Saturday as Arsenal swept to an easy victory over struggling Leeds to stay top on 27 points.

But Chelsea stay just a point behind after Romanian striker Adrian Mutu got the only goal of their game at Everton, while United moved on to 25 points after a 3-0 win over Portsmouth.

United, beaten at home by Fulham last weekend, made no such mistake at Old Trafford on Saturday as Diego Forlan gave them a first-half lead, Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo added his first for the club and fellow substitute Roy Keane smashed home a late third.