LONDON, Sept 25: A rare goal from Ashley Cole fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday as the Gunners maintained their slender advantage over Chelsea at the top of the English Premiership.

The England left-back's 14th-minute strike - a deft flick Thierry Henry would have been proud of - was enough to sink a spirited City as Arsenal extended their record-breaking unbeaten run to 47 Premiership matches.

Didier Drogba spared Chelsea's fans a third consecutive goalless draw with a late winner at Middlesbrough.

The 24-million-pound striker side-footed past Mark Schwarzer after Frank Lampard's well-worked contribution caught out the Boro defence to ensure Jose Mourinho's side remain two points behind Arsenal.

Chelsea have managed only seven goals in their seven games so far - compared with the 22 Arsenal have hit - but Mourinho insisted the floodgates would open soon.

Tottenham's unbeaten run under new manager Jacques Santini fell victim to Manchester United's revival as Alex Ferguson's side came away from White Hart Lane with a 1-0 win.

A Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty three minutes from the break made the difference in a tight encounter.

Spurs full-back Erik Edman conceded the spot-kick when he was spotted tugging John O'Shea and van Nistelrooy smashed ball into the top corner for his first league goal of the season.

Liverpool bounced back from their defeat by United earlier this week by knocking three goals past outclassed Premiership newcomers Norwich at Anfield.

Milan Baros and Luis Garcia had put the Reds in control by the break and Djibril Cisse rounded off a convincing victory just after the hour mark.

Bottom side Crystal Palace picked up only their second point of the season with a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.

It could have been even better after Andy Johnson give Iain Dowie's side a shock sixth-minute lead but midfielder Lee Hendrie rescued a point for the home side nine minutes before the break.

A header from Tomasz Radzinski mid-way through the first half earned Fulham a 1-0 win over a Southampton side who increasingly look as if they could be spending the rest of the season battling relegation.

Newcastle increased the pressure on West Brom boss Gary Megson with a 3-1 win at St James' Park.

Patrick Kluivert, James Milner and Alan Shearer all hit the net before Geoff Horsfield gained some slender consolation for the Baggies right at the death.

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