LONDON: Arsenal went top of the premier league on Saturday after a goalkeeping howler by Carlo Cudicini gifted them a 2-1 derby win over Chelsea at Highbury.

Thierry Henry bundled home the 75th minute winner after Cudicini's nightmare fumble to leave Arsenal top on 23 points, one clear of champions Manchester United, who had earlier snatched a 1-0 victory at Leeds United.

Chelsea's expensively-assembled side, who cancelled out Edu's deflected opener for Arsenal with a stunning strike by Argentine Hernan Crespo, are third on 20 points after their first league defeat of the season.

Elsewhere, Manchester City thrashed Bolton Wanderers 6-2, former Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger scored in Portsmouth's 1-0 victory over his old club and Newcastle United beat Middlesbrough 1-0 with a Shola Ameobi goal in the northeast derby.

Chelsea have never won a premier league game at Highbury but looked good for a draw until their Italian keeper came out to collect an innocuous cross from Robert Pires and somehow allowed the ball to slip straight through his hands.

Henry had missed two earlier chances against the former league leaders, who were watched by their Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, but this time the ball struck the France striker and rolled into the net.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his team played with the hand-brake on during the first half, but praised them for then picking up the pace after the break.

As for the key to Arsenal's victory, Wenger told Sky Sports: "We really wanted the points. They were happy with a draw and we were not - and that made the difference.

"We won the game on an error, but just before we could have scored twice."

Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri said he had comforted his fellow Italian Cudicini, saying: "I said to Carlo 'don't worry, you've saved a lot of chances for Chelsea. Today you were unlucky.'"

Asked if he felt Arsenal were worthy winners, Ranieri said: "I think in the second half they deserved (it) because they had a lot of shots on goal and maybe we defended too deep."

Champions win

Manchester United snatched their win after lowly Leeds raised their game and looked set for a deserved draw when skipper Roy Keane headed home a fine cross by Gary Neville.

United's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy missed chances in both halves while Paul Scholes should have made it 2-0 in stoppage time, hitting the bar from close range.

"It was a frustrating day for us really and that was down to the way Leeds performed and they were very good tactically," United manager Alex Ferguson said.

"You may look at it and say they deserved more but we had a major share of the game, we made the chances that mattered and I don't think we were undeserved winners.

"But it was a very hard game for us."

Leeds boss Peter Reid, whose side harried United in midfield and interrupted their forwards' supply line from playmaker Scholes, said: "The gameplan nearly worked. But that's why Manchester United are where they are.

"They're such a good side, with so many good players - they sniff a chance out and get a goal."

Nicolas Anelka and Shaun Wright-Phillips, who was red-carded in the 62nd minute, got two goals apiece for Manchester City as Kevin Keegan's side moved up to fourth on 15 points.

Goal difference put them ahead of Fulham, who were held 0-0 at home by a Wolverhampton Wanderers side who finally got off the bottom of the table.

Agencies via Xinhua

(China Daily 10/20/2003 page8)