Bendtner keeps Arsenal on top

Nicklas Bendtner's goal in the dying seconds earned English Premier League leaders Arsenal FC a 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa FC but Manchester United FC moved within a point with a 3-0 win at Fulham FC.

United cruise
Arsène Wenger's side were set to lose top spot on goal difference but Bendtner pounced ten seconds from the end of three added minutes to cancel out a first-half Philippe Senderos own goal and keep them on top of the table. Manchester United had no such troubles against relegation-threatened Fulham with first-half efforts from Owen Hargeaves and Ji-Sung Park followed by a Simon Davies own goal after the interval giving them a comfortable win at Craven Cottage.

Chelsea response
Chelsea FC bounced back from their defeat in the League Cup final last Sunday with an impressive 4-0 win at London rivals West Ham United FC. Three goals in five first-half minutes killed the game off, with Frank Lampard's penalty, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack finding the net. Lampard was sent off before half-time but it did not affect Avram Grant's men as Ashley Cole rounded off the scoring after 64 minutes.

Reading relief
It was a mixed day for the teams at the wrong end of the table. Reading FC had lost seven games on the trot before their trip to Middlesbrough FC but a last-gasp James Harper goal boosted their survival chances by moving them level with fourth-bottom Bolton Wanderers FC. Birmingham City FC's Mikael Forssell scored a hat-trick as the strugglers picked up a significant 4-1 win at home to League Cup victors Tottenham Hotspur FC while Wigan Athletic FC secured a useful point with a 0-0 draw at Manchester City FC.

Keegan woe
Newcastle United FC are still searching for their first win under Kevin Keegan after Matt Derbyshire struck in added-time to give Blackburn Rovers a 1-0 win in the north east while Sunderland AFC were left disappointed as they failed to register their first away win at bottom side Derby County FC in a 0-0 draw.