Pires magic inspires Arsenal, Fowler lifts Leeds
Bill Barclay
A magical goal by Frenchman Robert Pires gave Arsenal a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday that kept them in the thick of the English premier league title race.
With Manchester United and Liverpool winning away on Saturday -- 5-3 at West Ham and 2-1 at Middlesbrough respectively -- Arsenal badly needed a victory and Pires secured it with a sublime effort on the hour.
The French international, a leading contender for player of the year, produced two delightful touches to lift the ball over George Boateng and then lob Villa goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Arsene Wenger's side, who are chasing silverware on three fronts, also had England goalkeeper David Seaman to thank for a superb penalty save when the score was 1-0.
The result maintained Arsenal's amazing unbeaten away record in the league this season, a run now spanning 16 games.
Leaders United now have 64 points with seven games remaining, while Arsenal have 63 points with eight to play -- including a trip to United. Liverpool are third on 62 points with seven games left.
In Sunday's other game Robbie Fowler scored two early goals to set Leeds United on their way to a 3-1 home victory over Blackburn Rovers.
Arsenal were without the suspended Thierry Henry at Villa Park so Sylvain Wiltord started in attack alongside Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.
It was Wiltord who started the chain of events which led to Arsenal's opening goal after 15 minutes.
Schmeichel spilled the Frenchman's shot from a free kick and, after Patrick Vieira's follow-up was blocked, Brazilian Edu knocked in the second rebound.
Seaman thrust up a giant right hand to stop Gareth Barry's penalty nine minutes into the second-half after Lee Dixon, on his 38th birthday, had clumsily felled the Villa defender.
Pires made Villa pay five minutes later when he left Boateng and Schmeichel floundering to score one of the goals of the season -- a feat all the more impressive given the sodden conditions.
Dublin headed home to give Villa hope after 69 minutes but Arsenal, who face decisive games in the Champions League and FA Cup in the next six days, held on stubbornly to win.
FOWLER DOUBLE
At Elland Road Fowler helped Leeds to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
The England striker scored twice in the first eight minutes as David O'Leary's side moved to within five points of fourth-placed Newcastle United, who occupy the last Champions League qualifying spot at present.
It was only sixth-placed Leeds' second win in 12 games and left League Cup winners Blackburn fifth from bottom, only two points above the relegation zone.
Fowler raced through from inside his own half to put Leeds in front after five minutes and then converted an Alan Smith cross three minutes later despite Rovers' appeals for offside.
The 26-year-old has now scored 11 goals in 16 games since his surprise move from Liverpool last November.
Blackburn, minus the suspended Andy Cole, pulled one back four minutes into the second half through Matt Jansen after a horrendous mix-up between Leeds captain Rio Ferdinand and his defensive partner Jonathan Woodgate.
For a while Blackburn threatened an equaliser but Australian Harry Kewell made sure of the points for Leeds with a searing low drive in the 71st-minute after Rovers were caught out at the back.
