LONDON, March 18: A wonderful individual goal by Frenchman Robert Pires gave Arsenal a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday that kept them only one point behind English premier league leaders Manchester United.

Villa had just squandered a penalty when Pires produced two delightful touches to lift the ball over George Boateng and lob Villa goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel to clinch the points at a sodden Villa Park.

The Frenchman’s 60th-minute masterpiece added to Edu’s first-half effort and although Dion Dublin pulled one back for Villa, Arsenal held on to keep right on the heels of champions United with a game in hand.

The result maintained Arsenal’s amazing unbeaten away record in the league this season, a run now spanning 16 games.

United, who beat West Ham 5-3 in an Upton Park thriller on Saturday, have 64 points with seven games remaining. Arsenal have 63 points with eight to play, while Liverpool are third on 62 points with seven games left.

In Sunday’s other game Robbie Fowler scored twice as Leeds secured a 3-1 home victory over Blackburn Rovers. Leeds stay sixth.

Sunday’s result: