PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal stops Chelsea
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from February 1998.
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It was a terrible weekend for the top four clubs in England's Premier League, as they managed only one point among themselves - a 1-1 draw for Manchester United on Saturday.
Manchester United leads with 50 points, followed by Chelsea, Liverpool and Blackburn - all with 45. The win allowed fifth-pace Arsenal to move closer with 44 points, five ahead of the next club, Derby.
Arsenal, en route to its third win this season over Chelsea, jumped ahead early at its north London ground as Hughes scored in the fourth minute on a strike from 20 meters (yards) as the Gunners took advantage of a Chelsea defensive lapse. The 21-year-old Hughes, who is in contract negotiations with Arsenal, strengthened his position with another in the 42nd on a header front close in.
In Scotland on Sunday, Hearts and Celtic drew 1-1 to leave three clubs with 49 points atop the Premier Division. Rangers, who also drew 1-1 Saturday against Dunfermline, lead on goal difference.
Jose Quitongo equalized for Hearts in the 89th after Jackie McNamara had given Hearts a 1-0 led in the 40th.
On Saturday, Manchester United managed only a 1-1 draw over Bolton on a late goal by Andy Cole, but that was good enough to stretch the Reds' lead at the top as both Blackburn and Liverpool lost.
Bob Taylor scored for Bolton - 19th in the 20-team league - in the 60th minute, but Cole's goal six minutes from time sent the 55,000 sellout at Old Trafford home happy on a somewhat sad day. The match began after a minute of silence to mark the death in an aircrash in Munich 40 years ago of eight Manchester United players and 15 other passengers.
Blackburn and Liverpool each had miserable Saturdays. Blackburn lost 3-0 at home to struggling Tottenham and Liverpool fell 3-2 at home at Anfield to Southampton. Elsewhere in the Premier League Saturday: Barnsley 2, Everton 2; Coventry 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0; Derby 0, Aston Villa 1; Leicester 1, Leeds 0; Newcastle 0, West Ham 1.
In the English first division, Nottingham Forest moved on top with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth. Forest has 60 points. Middlesbrough dropped into second with 59 points after a 1-1 draw at Birmingham.
