Samir Nasri grabbed two goals to send Arsenal top of the English Premier League today with a win over Fulham as Chelsea was held to another disappointing draw.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team dropped two more points despite the return of skipper John Terry and midfield star Michael Essien and are now a point adrift of Manchester United, which has played one game less after its clash with Blackpool was postponed because of a frozen playing field.
The Gunners saw in-form France international Nasri score a superb double in their 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium — his 10th and 11th goals in just 13 starts.
The mercurial midfielder left both Brede Hangelaand and Aaron Hughes on their backsides before beating Mark Schwarzer for the opener in the first half.
The Cottagers leveled when Diomansy Kamara slotted home US star Clint Dempsey’s pass but Nasri was not to be denied. He showed stunning skill to bamboozle the Cottagers’ defense for the winner 15 minutes from time.
Elsewhere in London Saturday, Jermaine Beckford claimed a deserved 1-1 draw for Everton from its trip to Stamford Bridge as EPL champion Chelsea stuttered yet again.
Phil Neville sold North Brunswick (NJ) native Tim Howard horribly short with a sloppy back-pass, allowing Nicolas Anelka to nip in before being fouled by the U.S. National Team goalkeeper. Didier Drogba smashed home from the penalty spot after 42 minutes for his first EPL goal since Oct. 3.
Everton leveled the match with just four minutes left when Australian midfielder Tim Cahill headed the ball across the goal to set up Beckford from close range.
Carlos Tevez scored his 33rd goal in 50 EPL appearances for Manchester City as it saw off Bolton 1-0 at Eastlands. The Argentina international needed just four minutes to break the deadlock after he was released by Yaya Toure’s superb through-ball before calmly finishing beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Craig Gardner headed a late equalizer for Birmingham against Tottenham after Sebastien Bassong had put Spurs ahead in the 19th minute. Blackburn hammered Wolves 3-0 to erase the memory of its battering by Manchester United last weekend, while Wigan and Stoke shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw clash at the DW Stadium.
