Chelsea's (left to right) Claude Makelele, Didier Drogba, Hernan Crespo and Michael Essien celebrate after Crespo's goal against West Ham during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge, London, yesterday. Chelsea won 4-1. - REUTERS
LONDON, (REUTERS)
TEN-MAN CHELSEA ROARED back from a goal down to trounce West Ham United 4-1 and move closer to a second consecutive Premier League title yesterday, despite a 2-0 win for Manchester United over Arsenal.
With five games left, champions Chelsea have 82 points seven more than second-placed United after England striker Wayne Rooney scored one and made the other for South Korean Park Ji-sung in a pulsating clash at Old Trafford.
Third-placed Liverpool stay five points behind United, having played a game more, after striker Robbie Fowler celebrated his 31st birthday with the winner in a 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. Newcastle United beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside in the northeast derby, while the Midlands derby finished 0-0 between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.
United's victory provided a rousing finale to the weekend's action and dealt a bodyblow to sixth-placed Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
But Chelsea remain on course for a second league title, despite going a goal down yesterday and facing a crunch match at home to United on April 29 at Stamford Bridge.
James Collins headed West Ham into a 10th minute lead and Chelsea's Portugal midfielder Maniche was red-carded six minutes later for a rash tackle on Lionel Scaloni.
CHELSEA CHALLENGE
Jose Mourinho's 10 men rose to the challenge, with Ivorian Didier Drogba levelling in the 29th minute and Argentine strike partner Hernan Crespo putting them ahead two minutes later.
Goals from defenders John Terry and William Gallas put the London derby beyond doubt in the second half.
Mourinho told Sky Sports: "With 10 men for more than an hour, to go from 0-1 to 4-1 is impressive. The team played well from the first minute and the spirit was amazing.
"There was no fear of playing to win with 10 men and the character of the players was unbelievable ... we had so much of the game it looked like we had 12 players and not 10."
Mourinho also shrugged off the title threat from United before Alex Ferguson's men had kicked off at Old Trafford.
"We showed that it doesn't matter what Manchester United do, they can win, they can beat Arsenal - we don't depend on their results," he said.
"We can just get the results we need to be champions."
United made a slow start against Arsenal in the day's late kickoff but gradually built up the momentum before securing a deserved ninth consecutive league win.
Rooney fired United in front with a superb finish on 54 minutes and then provided the cutback for Park to slide home their killer second in the 78th minute.
DEFIANT MANAGER
A defiant Ferguson still sees his side in the title race, saying: "We firmly believe that winning our games will give us an outstanding chance.
The Scot added: "There's a lot of things in our favour, but we need them (Chelsea) to drop these points."
Defeat for Arsenal leaves them further away from the Champions League next season.
Liverpool have one slot in the qualifiers while the other is currently held by fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have 58 points. Blackburn Rovers are fifth on 54, a point ahead of Arsenal, who have a game in hand and play Portsmouth on Wednesday.
Asked about the battle for a Champions League slot, Wenger said: "It's like that every year but the only difference is that we are in a much worse position this year.
"In other years we could afford to drop a point or two but at the moment we can't do that.
"It's still in our hands, mathematically ... We have to play Tottenham at home and Tottenham also have difficult games. It's open, but of course we wanted to win every game."
Arsenal are still in this season's Champions League, facing Villarreal in the semi-finals. Should they go on to win the trophy, Arsenal would qualify as holders at the expense of England's fourth-placed club in the Premier League.
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