Man U, Arsenal advance

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have very little nice to say to each other and little in common but for once they shared the headlines for the right reasons as Manchester United and Arsenal became the first clubs to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Their means of qualifying like their managers, couldn’t have been more contrasting as united whipped once proud Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev 4-0 , while a second-string Arsenal side drew 0-0 away yesterday at Slavia Prague – a team they trounced 7-0 a fortnight ago.

Gerard Pique nodded United ahead with his first goal for the club and Carlos Tevez scored his first in the Champions League after a darting run hand one-two with Wayne Rooney.

Arsenal Stay Unbeaten

Willam Gallas scored a injury-time equalizer for Arsenal to draw 2-2 with Manchester United and stay unbeaten in the English Premier League.

Gallas’ shot crossed the line before it was pushed out by Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin ven der Sar, with the linesman awarding the goal.

“The referee interrupted the game and I thought he had given a free kick against us because the wall was in,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 83^rd minute to give Manchester United 2-1 lead, Gallas had scored an own goal in first-half injury time before Arsenal leveled through Cesc Fabregas in the 48^th.

Arsenal stay on top on goals scored with 27 points – the same as United – but the Gunners have played one game less.

Man U back in second spot

Wayne Rooney scored twice as Manchester United stormed back into second place with a 4-1 win at nine=man Aston Villa.
Gabriel Agbonlahor had given Villa a 12th minute when he added in Ashley Young's cross. But Zat Knight gifted United an equalizer soon after when he let Nani's low cross run through to Rooney who tapped in.
Then Rooney notched his fourth united goal in three games with fine low strike before Craig Gardner turned Rio Ferdinand's header into his own net just before half time.

Manchester United hit top spot

Champions Manchester United went top of the premier League for the first time this season when they scored four times in the second half to crush Wigan Athletic 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday. Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and one each from Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney secured United’s sixth successive league win without conceding a goal and took them above Arsenal into first place.