Arsenal defeated Chelsea on Saturday for the second time in a week by a 2-1 score. The win at Stamford Bridge, coupled with Manchester United's 1-1 surprise draw at Old Trafford against relegation-bound Leeds, pushed the Gunners seven points ahead of the Reds and nine ahead of third-place Chelsea.

　　The Gunners, with first-half goals from Patrick Vieira and Edu, are undefeated in 26 league games with 12 to play. United, with Paul Scholes scoring, has lost five and has won only two of its last five league games.

　　Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side blew a five-point lead at this point a year ago, declined to call it a two-team race.

　　"No, not at all," he said. "It's still a really long way. You never know what's going to happen from now until the end of the season."

　　Man United manager Alex Ferguson tried to stay upbeat.

　　"Seven points is a lot but it is not insurmountable," he said.

　　The title may be settled on March 28 when Man United faces Arsenal at Highbury in the biggest match of the season.

　　In other matches on Saturday: Bolton 1, Manchester City 3; Charlton 3, Blackburn 2; Newcastle 2, Middlesbrough 1; Southampton 3, Everton 3; Wolves 2, Fulham 1.

　　Arsenal has 64 points with Man United on 57 and Chelsea with 55. Newcastle moved into fourth place (41) followed by Charlton (40), Liverpool (38) and Aston Villa (36).

　　The three English leaders have away matches this week in the Champions League. Tomorrow, Arsenal plays at Spain's Celta Vigo. On Wednesday, Man United goes to Porto and Chelsea travels to Stuttgart.

　　Just as it did last weekend in a 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup, Chelsea took a 1-0 lead and couldn't hold it.

　　Chelsea went ahead after only 27 seconds. Vieira gave the ball away at midfield to Geremi, who crossed the ball toward the goal. Adrian Mutu headed it on to Eidur Gudjohnsen who scored from close range.

　　Arsenal answered with two goals in six minutes.

　　Vieira made up for his mistake in the 15th. The Frenchman passed to Dennis Bergkamp at midfield and then made a run. Bergkamp found him with a perfect pass and Vieira scored from 12 meters.

　　Edu scored in the 21st on a close-in goal, taking advantage when goalkeeper Neil Sullivan failed to control a cross.

　　At Old Trafford, Manchester United took a 1-0 lead in the 64th when Paul Scholes followed up a Gary Neville shot that was fumbled by 'keeper Scott Carson. Carson, 18, was making his first Premier League start, playing for suspended Paul Robinson.

　　Leeds, playing without banned striker Mark Viduka, equalized in the 67th when Alan Smith drove a header behind American 'keeper Tim Howard.

　　In Newcastle's 2-1 win over 'Boro, the Magpies fell behind on Boudewijn Zenden's goal, but rallied with an equalizer by Craig Bellamy (63rd) and Alan Shearer's winner on a penalty (83rd).

　　Charlton almost blew a 2-0 lead but survived 3-2 against Blackburn.

　　Robbie Fowler scored twice (27th and 31st) as Manchester City stopped its 14-game winless streak in league play for a 3-1 win at Bolton.

　　Everton's Wayne Rooney scored two but the Toffies, who led 3-1 after Rooney's second in the 78th, had to settle for a 3-3 draw at Southampton.

　　In Scotland, Rangers cut Celtic's league lead to 10 points on Saturday, defeating Hibernian 3-0.

　　Shota Arveladze gave Rangers a 1-0 lead on a 9th-minute penalty, and Michael Molls made it 2-0 in the 66th. Steven Thompson got the final goal on a penalty in the 83rd.

　　In other games: Aberdeen 2, Dunfermline 0; Dundee 1, Livingston 0; Hearts 3, Dundee United 1; Motherwell 1, Kilmarnock 0.

　　(The Associated Press)