Arsenal back on top, Middlesbrough go fourth
Bill Barclay
Champions Arsenal replaced neighbours Tottenham Hotspur on top of the English premier league after in-form Sylvain Wiltord inspired them to a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Highbury on Tuesday.
Wiltord's strike, his sixth in six games, and a Thierry Henry goal also in the first half sealed a win that lifted Arsenal to 11 points from five games, one point clear of Spurs.
City briefly levelled through former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka but finished with 10 men after Ali Bernabia was sent off five minutes from the end.
Middlesbrough leapt to fourth place on eight points after demolishing neighbours Sunderland 3-0 at the Riverside in Tuesday's other premier league match, with Slovakian Szilard Nemeth scoring twice.
Both games were preceded by a minute's silence to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the United States last year.
Despite having lost their last two games against Arsenal 4-0 and 5-0, City started the brighter at Highbury and almost took an early lead when Bernabia struck the crossbar after five minutes.
Arsenal looked lacklustre but went ahead after 26 minutes when Dennis Bergkamp played in Wiltord and the in-form Frenchman calmly beat City goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
It was Wiltord's fifth league goal of the season, adding to his superb winner for France against Cyprus on Saturday.
Deservedly, City levelled almost immediately, when Bernabia found Anelka unmarked and the striker, not known for his aerial prowess, headed low past David Seaman.
Arsenal hit back, though, and Henry drew a fine save from Schmeichel before putting Arsenal back in front three minutes before the break with a low finish after a good link-up between Wiltord and Ashley Cole.
NEMETH DOUBLE
The second half was more cagey with Anelka causing a few nervous moments against his old team but after Benarbia earned a second yellow for dissent, Arsene Wenger's side saw out time to stretch their unbeaten run to 26 premier league matches.
Middlesbrough, who beat Sunderland home and away last season, raced into a 2-0 lead before halftime at the Riverside.
Nemeth tapped in a 17th-minute opener after Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen spilled a Massimo Maccarone shot and the Italian striker's fine header from a Franck Queudrue free kick made it 2-0 after 37 minutes.
Maccarone fed Nemeth who dinked in his second to make it 3-0 midway through the second period, completing a miserable night for Peter Reid's Sunderland.
Liverpool and Manchester United, who like Middlesbrough both have eight points, host Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers respectively on Wednesday.
Tottenham, though, have the chance to regain their lead at the top if they can win at Fulham. They have 10 points, one behind Arsenal.
