Teenage striker Wayne Rooney [Images] helped Manchester United [Images] to a thumping 4-0 win at Charlton Athletic on Sunday to close within a point of Arsenal [Images] in the sprint to next season's Champions League.

A day after Chelsea won the English Premier League title with a 2-0 win at Bolton Wanderers, the race for European soccer continued with United's win and a 5-1 victory for Tottenham Hotspur over Aston Villa which moved Spurs into a provisional UEFA [Images] Cup slot.

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Paul Scholes opened the scoring for United after Charlton keeper Stephan Andersen spilled a Rooney shot in the 34th minute and Darren Fletcher rifled in the second just before halftime.

Both United's second half goals came on the break, with Alan Smith adding a cool finish and Rooney getting on the scoresheet with a neat flick past a stranded Andersen on 67 minutes.

Charlton's day ended on an even sourer note with an 85th minute red card for Chris Perry for dragging down Wes Brown as the United defender bore down on goal.

Chelsea have won the league with 88 points, Arsenal are second on 74 points before their game in hand at West Bromwich Albion on Monday and United are third on 73 with three games left to play.

The second-placed finishers are guaranteed a place in next season's Champions League while the third-placed club must go through the final qualifying round.

Manager Alex Ferguson was cautious about United's chances of denying Arsenal, who they face in the FA Cup final in Cardiff on May 21, the runners-up slot.

ARSENAL'S POINTS

"Anything else is a bonus at this moment in time, because Arsenal have to drop five points for us to get into the second spot -- as long as we win our games," he said.

"We've just got to carry on what we're doing, take this form into the final and it should be a great game."

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley was bitterly disappointed by his team's display and a poor run of recent form.

"We need to change things around in the summer and bring some players in ... there's no excuses. We're just not good enough at the moment," he said.

Curbishley appeared to rule out stepping down, saying: "Perhaps I have been here too long, but I try to take success and defeat the same way ... it's up to me and them to turn it around."

Further down the table, Spurs have 51 points and are seventh on goal difference ahead of Middlesbrough -- who they face next Saturday at the Riverside in their penultimate game of the season.

Spurs were 3-0 up inside the opening half hour after two goals from Mali international striker Frederic Kanoute and one from captain Ledley King, while Gareth Barry pulled one back from the penalty spot for Villa just before the break.

Andy Reid added the fourth with a superb 20-metre strike and Stephen Kelly completed a miserable afternoon for Villa's stand-in keeper Stefan Postma with a close-range effort on 90 minutes.

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