LONDON, March 19: Andy Johnson struck in injury time to give Everton a 1-0 win over Arsenal that hauled them into the top six of the Premier League on Sunday. It was another disappointing day for Arsenal, who lost in three cup competitions in the last three weeks, and it allowed Liverpool to close to within a point in the battle for third after they drew 0-0 at Aston Villa.

At Goodison Park Everton hit the post twice – through Lee Carsley after 26 minutes and Leon Osman after 73 – but in between Arsenal forced several half-chances.

Substitute Tomas Rosicky set up Jeremie Aliadiere for the best of them but the stand-in striker fired over the bar.

The game seemed to be heading for stalemate until Johnson showed his striker's instinct in added time to fire home from 12 metres following a corner and boost Everton's hopes of a UEFA Cup spot.

There was precious little goalmouth action at Villa Park, where the home side would have been happy with a point to edge them further from the relegation zone.

Manchester United, 4-1 winners over Bolton Wanderers, lead the way on 75 points, six clear of Chelsea, who beat Sheffield United 3-0.

Arsenal remain third on 55 points, one ahead of Liverpool, who have played a game more.

Everton climb to sixth on 46 while Villa are now seven points clear of the drop zone on 34.

In Sunday's other game Charlton Athletic moved within four points of safety thanks to a well-deserved 2-0 home victory over Newcastle United.

On-loan China captain Zheng Zhi headed his first goal for the Londoners after 53 minutes when a Darren Bent free kick came back off the bar and Jerome Thomas added a late penalty after Zheng was brought down.

On Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Manchester United to a 4-1 rout of Bolton Wanderers but their lead was kept to six points after champions Chelsea beat Sheffield United 3-0.

Ronaldo made three goals in the first 25 minutes at Old Trafford, two for South Korea's Park Ji-sung and one for Wayne Rooney, who added his second before Bolton's Gary Speed converted a late penalty.

Chelsea won comfortably following early goals from Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko and Ivorian Salomon Kalou. Germany captain Michael Ballack came off the bench to head the third in the 58th minute.

West Ham United moved off the bottom with their first away win of the league season, a highly controversial 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Blackburn led through Christopher Samba, West Ham levelled from the penalty spot with Argentina's Carlos Tevez and Bobby Zamora claimed a 75th minute winner with a shot that struck Tevez who was standing on the goalline and bounced out.

Manchester City got a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Middlesbrough, while Tottenham Hotspur beat relegation candidates Watford 3-1, including a goal by Spurs' England keeper Paul Robinson with a free kick from his own half.

There were 0-0 draws between Reading and Portsmouth, along with Wigan Athletic and Fulham.

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