LONDON, Feb 4: Thierry Henry’s 200th goal for Arsenal helped the Gunners end a difficult week on a high with a 2-0 win at Birmingham on Saturday. Alan Shearer was also celebrating a landmark day, his 201st goal for Newcastle sealing a 2-0 win over Portsmouth as well as making the former England forward the highest scorer in the club’s history.

Henry reached his milestone mid-way through the second half after team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor, on his debut, had headed Arsenal into a 21st-minute lead.

There was good news off the pitch as well for manager Arsene Wenger with troubled England centreback Sol Campbell, who had gone missing after a midweek defeat by West Ham, confirming he would be back at training on Monday.

Charles N’Zogbia had opened the scoring for Newcastle in their first match since the sacking of Graeme Souness on Thursday.

Shearer, who is acting as a temporary assistant to caretaker manager Glenn Roeder, then made the points safe with a goal that took him past Jackie Milburn’s record as the highest scorer in the Magpies history.

Steve McClaren’s chances of becoming the next England manager suffered another hammer blow when his Middlesbrough side slumped to an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.

A hat-trick from Luke Moore and a Kevin Phillips strike saw Boro slip to just one place above the relegation zone.

West Brom jumped above McClaren’s free-falling side with an impressive 2-0 over Blackburn. Kevin Campbell, on his 36th birthday, and midfielder Jonathan Greening got the goals that will further buoy the Baggies hopes of Premiership survival.

Everton’s climb up the table continued with a 1-0 win over Manchester City, who finished the game with ten men after having midfielder Stephen Jordan sent off in the closing stages after earning a second yellow card.

Scotland defender David Weir claimed the winner for Everton with an eighth minute strike.

Anders Johansson, with his first Premiership goal, rescued a point for Wigan at Bolton, who had gone ahead in the 63rd minute through Greek midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos.

West Ham condemned Sunderland to their 19th defeat in 24 matches this season.

Late goals from new signing Dean Ashton and Paul Konchesky made it another bitterly disappointing afternoon for the visiting supporters and will further increase speculation that manager Mick McCarthy could be the next Premiership boss for the axe.

Results:

Birmingham City 0 Arsenal 2

Bolton Wanderers 1 Wigan Athletic 1

Everton 1 Manchester City 0

Middlesbrough 0 Aston Villa 4

Newcastle United 2 Portsmouth 0

W.B. Albion 2 Blackburn Rovers 0

West Ham United 2 Sunderland 0

—Agencies