Game Week 21- Review

Eduardo da Silva struck inside the opening minute as Arsenal cruised past West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium to maintain their two-point lead at the summit of the Barclays Premier League. Arsenal doubled their advantage after 18 minutes as Emmanuel Adebayor squeezed home from an acute angle after heading Gael Clichy's long ball past the onrushing Green.

Liverpool's Barclays Premier League title hopes were dealt a blow as Wigan Athletic claimed an unlikely 1-1 draw at Anfield. After wasting a number of chances in the opening period Rafael Benitez's side finally broke the deadlock four minutes into the second period as Fernando Torres slid home to finish Steve Finnan's inviting cross for his 16th goal of the season.Liverpool were made to pay for their inability to kill off the match, though, as Titus Bramble fired home a loose ball from the edge of the penalty area after 79 minutes.

Carlos Tevez's sublime goal was enough to see off the challenge of Birmingham City and ensure Manchester United remain within striking distance of the Gunners with a 1-0 win. The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock after 10 minutes as Tevez's header crashed back off the post before Cristiano Ronaldo - partnering the Argentinian in attack - saw a long-range volley dip over Maik Taylor's crossbar. United's new-look strikeforce combined to devastating effect for the decisive goal after 25 minutes, though, as Tevez latched on to Ronaldo's audacious backheel to coolly slot past Taylor.

Elano added to his already burgeoning reputation with a goal of genuine class seven minutes before the break to put Manchester City ahead. The Brazilian started the move on the edge of Newcastle United's penalty area with a deft backheel before latching onto Darius Vassell's lay-off to steer the ball past Shay Given into the bottom left corner. City netted their second with 14 minutes remaining when Gelson Fernandes lashed home from just inside the area after Kelvin Etuhu's neat lay-off.

It was a tale of two penalties at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers recorded a 1-0 win over Sunderland. Roy Keane's side wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead five minutes after the break as captain Dean Whitehead missed from the spot. Daryl Murphy was bundled to the ground following a challenge from Christopher Samba but Whitehead's spot-kick was easily kept out by Brad Friedel.The Black Cats were made to pay the ultimate price for their profligacy as Benni McCarthy lashed home from the spot just five minutes later after Samba's volley had crashed against Danny Higginbotham's raised arm. Sunderland's hopes of finding a way back into the match were all but ended with 20 minutes remaining when Dwight Yorke was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Derby County remain rooted to the bottom of the table and 10 points away from safety after Stelios Giannakopoulos scored the only goal of the match in stoppage time for Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. The Greece international latched on to a long clearance from goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. He chipped the ball over Lewis Price and headed into an empty net to leave Derby stunned.

New Fulham boss Roy Hodgson endured a losing start to his Cottagers reign as Chelsea overcame a lifeless first half to edge their west London rivals 2-1. Danny Murphy blasted Fulham ahead with a 10th-minute penalty, a lead that deservedly remained intact until the interval. But Chelsea clicked into gear after the break with a Salomon Kalou header and disputed Michael Ballack penalty securing the three points.

Portsmouth recorded their seventh win in eight away games as they eased past 10-man Reading 2-0. The Royals got off to a disastrous start with defender Ibrahima Sonko receiving his marching orders after just three minutes for bringing down Benjani Mwaruwari in the penalty area. Niko Kranjcar failed to take advantage, though, as his spot-kick crashed back off the upright. But after nine minutes Sol Campbell prodded into an empty net after Marcus Hahnemann had dropped Sulley Muntari's inswinging free-kick. They added a second after 65 minutes as John Utaka outpaced Nicky Shorey to latch on to Muntari's long ball and slot past the exposed Hahnemann.

Everton bounced back from their home defeat by Arsenal with a 2-0 win at Middlesbrough. Andy Johnson broke the deadlock after 67 minutes with an angled drive past Mark Schwarzer before James McFadden sealed the win with a cool finish five minutes later.

Martin Laursen atoned for a first half miss by scoring a late winner for Aston Villa to maintain their push for a European place. The Danish international had shot over from close range with the goal at his mercy before fellow defender Olof Mellberg broke the deadlock in the Barclays Premier League match against Tottenham four minutes before the interval. Jermaine Defoe looked to have rescued a point for Spurs when he volleyed home after 79 minutes in only his second league start of the season - but Laursen had the final say with his fifth goal of the campaign.