Middlesbrough, Aug 25: Arsenal beat Middlesbrough 4-0 in English Premier League. Arsenal scored three goals in the opening 22 minutes as they coasted to a 4-0 win at Middlesbrough in the English Premier League on Sunday (August 24). Middlesbrough, who had new signing from Lazio Gaizka Mendieta watching from the stands, fell behind after five minutes when goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer failed to hold a shot from Freddie Ljungberg allowing Thierry Henry to tap into the empty net. Eight minutes later, Robert Pires teased the Middlesbrough defence before chipping a cross to Gilberto Silva to score with a fine volley. Henry provided the third midway through the half when his pass gave Sylvain Wiltord a simple tap-in.


Arsenal eased off in the second half but sealed their win after an hour's play when Ljungberg set up Wiltord for his second goal and Arsenal's fourth.


The result moved Arsenal to joint-top of the league with champions Manchester United who beat Newcastle United 2-1 on Saturday (August 23).


Standings: P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 2 2 0 0 6 1 6 2. Manchester United 2 2 0 0 6 1 6 3. Chelsea 2 2 0 0 4 2 6 4. Blackburn Rovers 2 1 1 0 7 3 4 5. Manchester City 2 1 1 0 4 1 4 6. Portsmouth 2 1 1 0 3 2 4 7. Birmingham City 2 1 1 0 1 0 4 8. Charlton Athletic 2 1 0 1 4 3 3 9. Everton 2 1 0 1 4 3 3 10. Tottenham Hotspur 2 1 0 1 2 2 3 11. Fulham 2 1 0 1 4 5 3 12. Southampton 2 0 2 0 2 2 2 13. Leeds United 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 14. Leicester City 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 15. Newcastle United 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 16. Aston Villa 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 17. Liverpool 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 18. Bolton Wanderers 2 0 1 1 2 6 1 19. Middlesbrough 2 0 0 2 2 7 0 20. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 0 0 2 1 9 0


Bureau Report