Aston Villa blew a chance to go eight points clear of Arsenal in the race for England's fourth Champions League berth Sunday after conceding two late goals against relegation-threatened Stoke City. The 2-2 draw, with Stoke cancelling out their hosts' 2-0 lead in the final three minutes, left fourth-placed Villa six points ahead of Arsenal and three adrift of second-placed Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League.
Alexis Sanchez is facing a crucial period to justify his big-money wages at Old Trafford.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has shouldered the blame for the way his team's Premier League title challenge has collapsed.
Skipper Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-3 after twice coming from behind in a remarkable Premier League match of attacking brilliance and defensive mistakes at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Manchester United cemented third spot and moved four points clear of neighbours Manchester City.
If newly rich Manchester City wanted to rile Manchester United during the close-season they certainly went about it the right way -- and not just by spending over 100 million pounds on new players. The arrivals of Carlos Tevez from United, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure from Arsenal, Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn and Gareth Barry from Aston Villa should certainly see City improve in the new Premier League season starting this weekend.
The result took Arsenal on to 40 points from 17 games, one ahead of Manchester United, who briefly went top earlier in the day after winning 1-0 at Liverpool.
Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was poised to join Arsenal before Manchester United offered three times as much money, the Ballon d'Or winner said in an interview published Friday. 'I was within an inch of (joining Arsenal),' Ronaldo told France Football. 'I have a lot of respect for (manager Arsene) Wenger, he is a very clever man.'
Arsenal beat Stoke City 1-0 to cut Manchester United's Premier League lead to one point on Wednesday but the win was overshadowed by injuries to Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.
Manchester United posted a second straight four-goal Premier League away win with a 4-0 success at West Ham United on Saturday but it was tempered by more injuries that have left the club shorn of almost all their defenders. United, who won 4-1 at Portsmouth last week, move to 34 points, once again within two of leaders Chelsea who visit Manchester City later on Saturday.
Chelsea lost for the sixth time in six games in all competitions since interim coach Frank Lampard replaced Graham Potter last month, a dismal run for a club who were crowned European champions as recently as two years ago.
Written off before the start of the season, the Gunners can clock up a 10th consecutive victory in all competitions when they welcome Roy Keane's Sunderland to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
A summary of Saturday's action in the English Premier League.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Arsenal climbed above Manchester United into second place in the Premier League with a 3-1 home win over Burnley on Saturday.
Arsene Wenger was left glowing with pride at the performance of his young team in Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester United -- a week after the world seemed united in telling him he needed to buy in some experience.
An inspired second half goal from Edison Mendez was enough to give PSV Eindhoven a slender 1-0 win over Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League first knockout round match
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United both sealed comeback victories to boost their European qualification hopes.
Manchester United knocked Arsenal off the top of the Premier League as they stifled their title rivals' attacking flair with a 1-0 win thanks to Park Ji-sung's goal on Monday.
Premier League leaders Manchester United sealed a needlessly nervy 2-1 home win over Liverpool on Sunday after Robin van Persie and Patrice Evra put rival Luis Suarez in the shade.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will be out of action for three months after undergoing ankle surgery, the Premier League club said on Thursday.
Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's opportunistic goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Birmingham City in the English premiership.
Top European soccer clubs have discussed changing the Champions League to ensure the elite are always in it and the likes of Leicester City are not, according to a US sports executive involved in the talks.
Champions Liverpool were ripped apart 7-2 at Aston Villa and Manchester United were humiliated 6-1 at home by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in one of the most astonishing days of Premier League results.
Wayne Rooney scored a two-penalty hat-trick as Manchester United won 4-1 at Portsmouth on Saturday to trim Chelsea's Premier League lead to two points.
Everton can take a huge step towards an unlikely top-four finish and Champions League soccer next season if they can maintain their recent run of great form by winning at Arsenal for the first time in 17 years on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the EPL matches played on Wednesday.
Manchester United beat Sunderland 4-0 while Chelsea were held to a 4-4 draw by Astin Villa in the EPL.
Striker Robin Van Persie wanted to leave Arsenal and left the club with no choice but to sell him, manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday after the Dutch international joined Manchester United.
A Sergio Aguero hat-trick helped Manchester City get back to winning ways in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United, as they stayed 12 points ahead of Manchester United who had to dig deep to secure a 1-0 win at Burnley.
Title-holders Barcelona will play Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they hope to remain on course for a repeat of last year's final against Manchester United.
Chelsea enjoyed some much-needed home comfort with goals from Juan Mata and Frank Lampard securing a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
Phil Foden kept Manchester City's Premier League title challenge on track with a superb second-half double as his side hit back to clinch a 3-1 home victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
Steven Bergwijn scored twice in stoppage time as Tottenham Hotspur stunned Leicester City and pulled off a remarkable 3-2 victory in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Manager reckons Manchester United still in top four race
A summary of Tuesday's League Cup matches.
