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UK Roundup Arsenal pummels West Bromwich 5-2; Spurs blank CharltonPosted: Tuesday August 27, 2002 6:14 PMUpdated: Tuesday August 27, 2002 9:12 PM LONDON (Reuters) -- English double winners Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season with a comfortable 5-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Highbury on Tuesday. Defenders Ashley Cole and Lauren set them on their way, before France international Sylvain Wiltord scored twice to take his season's tally to four and compatriot Jeremie Aliadiere, 19, completed Arsenal's 15th win in 16 league games with his first goal for the club. Scott Dobie and Jason Roberts ensured West Brom avoided a humiliation with second-half strikes, but the West Midlands club still is searching for its first points of the season after promotion from the first division last season. Arsenal, which has seven points in three games in the new season, head the table on goal difference from north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who beat Charlton Athletic 1-0 in the other Premier League match on Tuesday. Wales international Simon Davies scored Spurs' winner after eight minutes as Glenn Hoddle's side's positive start to the season continued at The Valley. Liverpool and Leeds United both have a maximum six points from their opening two matches. West Brom, who lost to Manchester United and Leeds United in their opening two games, could not have endured a worst start at Arsenal as they went three down inside 23 minutes. Regained composure Cole, the England left-back, drove a powerful shot into the top corner in the fourth minute, before Cameroon's Lauren pounced from close range after 21 minutes and Wiltord chipped in two minutes later. A defensive mix-up between Cole and David Seaman allowed Dobie to pull one back six minutes after halftime, and Arsenal could have found themselves a man down if referee Paul Durkin had shown Martin Keown a red card instead of yellow after a tussle with Dobie on the edge of the area as the Scotland striker attempted to burst through. But Arsene Wenger's side regained their composure for a 4-1 lead through Wiltord and, although Roberts's neat goal held up their charge, Aliadiere came off the substitutes' bench to finish the visitors off from close range. "Maybe psychologically we felt it was a bit easy in the second half, but it was a good performance," Wenger, whose side could only draw 2-2 at West Ham United on Saturday, told Sky Sports television. "We were disappointed after Saturday, and we showed tonight how well we can play going forward. We lost concentration at times but it is early in the season." Wenger reiterated his desire to sign a goalkeeper as cover for Seaman before the Aug. 31 transfer deadline. "We hope to sign someone by [Wednesday], or within 48 hours," he said. West Brom manager Gary Megson has seen his players concede nine goals in their first three matches in the top flight, and they are already propping up the table. "We caused Arsenal one or two problems," said Megson. "But individually and collectively we have to improve defensively as a unit." Hoddle hopes Hoddle's rebuilding job at Spurs is showing encouraging signs for the club's fans who have suffered in the shadow of Arsenal recently. Davies, who slotted home after a Teddy Sheringham pass, was excellent in midfield as Spurs dominated a pulsating encounter against Charlton. They also had a strong penalty claim turned down by referee Alan Wiley, who booked Davies for diving despite appearing to be felled by Charlton keeper Dean Kiely. Charlton were left cursing the form of Spurs keeper Kasey Keller, in for the injured Neil Sullivan, who produced a series of excellent saves. Hoddle, who needs a striker before the transfer deadline, has been linked with a number of players in the media recently. He has admitted his interest in Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes, and Hoddle said on Tuesday: "It's not necessarily just about Morientes. "There's still work to be done on that one, and others...we're juggling a few balls on the transfer front, hopefully one will come down in the right place."
Sturridge rescues Wolves as Burnley crash againLONDON (Reuters) -- Dean Sturridge saved Wolverhampton Wanderers' blushes with the equaliser in their 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday in the English first division on Tuesday. Wednesday, searching for their first win of the season, twice took the lead at Molineux through Shefki Kuqi's double, after nine and 63 minutes. But promotion favourites Wolves, who signalled their intent with a 4-1 win at Derby County on Saturday, hit back through Nathan Blake on the hour and Sturridge's header eight minutes later. The point maintained Wolves' unbeaten start to the season and moved them into second place, level on 11 points with Rotherham United and Norwich City. Portsmouth still top the table with 13 points from five games. Wednesday's city rivals Sheffield United beat Millwall 3-1 at Bramall Lane with strikes from Carl Asaba, Michael Tonge and, after Paul Ifill had given the London club brief hope, Peter Ndlovu in the last minute. Reading inflicted bottom club Burnley's fourth defeat in four games this term, as a Jamie Cureton double either side of Martin Butler's goal gave them a 3-0 win. Crystal Palace and Leicester City fought out a 0-0 draw at
Selhurst Park, marred for Leicester by Gerry Taggart's 85th
minute sending off.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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